厨师

• Pinyin: chú shī
• Hanzi breakdown: 厨 = 厂 (cliff) + 豆 (bean) + 寸 (inch), kitchen; 师 = 帀 + 一, master/teacher

Meaning

Chef; cook. A professional who prepares food.

Refers to someone whose profession is cooking, typically in a restaurant or professional kitchen. Can range from line cooks to head chefs. More formal than 做饭的 (someone who cooks). Commonly appears in discussions of careers, restaurants, and cuisine.

Examples

1. 这家餐厅的厨师是从法国请来的，擅长做西餐。 This restaurant's chef was brought in from France and specializes in Western cuisine.
2. 他从小就梦想当一名厨师，现在终于实现了。 He's dreamed of being a chef since he was young, and now he's finally achieved it.
3. 好的厨师不仅要会做菜，还要懂得食材搭配和营养。 A good chef not only needs to know how to cook but also needs to understand ingredient pairing and nutrition.

Usage Guide

Context: culinary, career, everyday

Tone: respectful

Do Say

• 请问你们餐厅的主厨是哪位？(May I ask who is the head chef at your restaurant?)
• 他是一位经验丰富的厨师。(He is an experienced chef.)

Don't Say

• 区分'厨师'和'厨子'：'厨师'更正式和尊重，'厨子'比较随意 (Note the difference between 厨师 and 厨子 — 厨师 is more formal and respectful, while 厨子 is more casual)

Origin & History

Combines 厨 (kitchen) with 师 (master/professional), meaning a professional in the kitchen.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal