烤鸭

• Pinyin: kǎo yā
• Hanzi breakdown: 烤 = 火 (fire) + 考 (phonetic); 鸭 = 甲 (shell/armor) + 鸟 (bird)

Meaning

Roast duck. A famous Chinese dish, especially associated with Beijing.

One of China's most famous dishes, particularly Beijing Roast Duck (北京烤鸭), which has been served since the imperial era. The duck is roasted until the skin is crispy and typically served with thin pancakes, scallions, and sweet bean sauce.

Examples

1. 来北京一定要尝尝正宗的北京烤鸭。 When visiting Beijing, you must try authentic Beijing roast duck.
2. 这家百年老店的烤鸭皮脆肉嫩，非常好吃。 This century-old restaurant's roast duck has crispy skin and tender meat — very delicious.
3. 我们点了一只烤鸭和几个配菜。 We ordered a roast duck and several side dishes.

Usage Guide

Context: food, travel, culture

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 北京烤鸭是必吃的美食。(Beijing roast duck is a must-eat delicacy.)
• 这只烤鸭够四个人吃。(This roast duck is enough for four people.)

Don't Say

• 我自己在家做烤鸭。(Making authentic 烤鸭 requires special equipment — at home say 烤鸭腿 or be prepared to explain your method)

Origin & History

烤 (kǎo, roast) + 鸭 (yā, duck). The compound simply means 'roasted duck.'

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal