卤味

• Pinyin: lǔ wèi
• Hanzi breakdown: 卤 = 囗 + 义 (brine/curing); 味 = 口 + 未 (taste/flavour)

Meaning

Braised or marinated food items; foods cooked in a seasoned master stock. A broad category of savoury, slow-cooked Chinese deli meats and assorted ingredients.

Encompasses a wide range of foods — duck necks, chicken feet, tofu, eggs, and various meats — all simmered in a spiced, soy-based brine. A staple of Chinese street food, convenience stores, and snack culture, especially popular in Hunan, Sichuan, and Guangdong cuisine.

Examples

1. 他从夜市摊位上买了一袋卤味，边走边吃，享受着夜晚的烟火气。 He bought a bag of braised snacks from a night-market stall and ate as he walked, enjoying the lively night atmosphere.
2. 这家百年老店的卤味以香料配方独特著称，每天一开门便有长龙排队。 This century-old shop’s braised specialties are famous for their distinctive spice blend; every day, as soon as it opens, a long line forms.
3. 超市熟食区的卤味种类繁多，从卤蛋到卤猪耳，应有尽有。 The supermarket deli has all kinds of braised items, from soy-braised eggs to braised pig ears—anything you could want.

Usage Guide

Context: food, street food, daily life

Tone: casual

Do Say

• 她每次回老家都要去那家老字号买几包卤味带回去，说是城里再也找不到那种地道的味道。(Every time she returns to her hometown, she buys several packs of braised meats from that long-established shop, saying she cannot find such an authentic flavour anywhere in the city.)
• 便利店的卤味已经成为年轻上班族下班后解馋的首选零食。(Convenience store braised snacks have become the go-to after-work treat for young office workers looking to satisfy their cravings.)

Don't Say

• 将卤味与红烧菜混淆 — 卤味 refers specifically to items cooked in a master stock and often served cold or at room temperature as snacks; 红烧 (red-braised) is a different hot dish cooking method

Origin & History

卤 (brine/master stock) + 味 (flavour/taste) — literally 'brine-flavoured food'; 卤 originally referred to salt brine used in preservation

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal