烧烤

• Pinyin: shāo kǎo
• Hanzi breakdown: 烧 = 火 + 尧 (burn); 烤 = 火 + 考 (grill, bake)

Meaning

Barbecue; grilling. Refers to cooking food over fire or charcoal, or the food itself.

Both a cooking method and a social activity deeply embedded in Chinese food culture. Outdoor 烧烤 gatherings are especially popular in summer. Also refers to 烧烤摊 (barbecue stalls) common in Chinese cities.

Examples

1. 朋友们周末在院子里支起炉子，举行了一场烧烤聚会。 Over the weekend, friends set up a grill in the yard and held a barbecue get-together.
2. 夜市的烧烤摊飘来阵阵香味，令人食欲大增。 At the night market, the barbecue stalls sent out waves of aroma that made everyone’s appetite grow.
3. 他最拿手的就是烤羊肉串和各种蔬菜烧烤。 He’s best at lamb skewers and all kinds of grilled vegetables.

Usage Guide

Context: food, social, leisure

Tone: friendly

Do Say

• 夏天约朋友一起去吃烧烤是很多中国人的消遣方式。(Arranging a barbecue outing with friends in summer is a popular leisure activity for many Chinese people.)
• 这家烧烤店的羊肉串外焦里嫩，味道极佳。(The lamb skewers at this barbecue restaurant are crispy on the outside and tender inside — absolutely delicious.)

Don't Say

• 把烧烤与西式BBQ完全等同 — Chinese 烧烤 typically features skewers and bold spice rubs, distinct from Western barbecue traditions

Origin & History

烧 (burn/heat) + 烤 (grill/bake) — to heat and grill food over fire

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal