调料

• Pinyin: tiáo liào
• Hanzi breakdown: 调 = 讠+ 周 — to blend, season; 料 = 米 + 斗 — material, ingredient

Meaning

Seasoning; condiment; flavoring.

Any ingredient added to food to enhance flavor, including salt, soy sauce, spices, oils, and vinegar. Essential in Chinese cooking. Can refer to individual seasonings or a collection of them.

Examples

1. 川菜用的调料特别多，所以味道层次丰富。 Sichuan cuisine uses a lot of seasonings, which gives it rich layers of flavor.
2. 这道菜只需要盐和胡椒两种调料就够了。 This dish only needs two seasonings — salt and pepper.
3. 厨房架子上摆满了各种瓶瓶罐罐的调料。 The kitchen shelf is filled with various bottles and jars of seasonings.

Usage Guide

Context: cooking, food, kitchen

Tone: practical

Do Say

• 放点调料。(Add some seasoning.)
• 调料齐全。(All seasonings are ready.)

Don't Say

• 把主要食材叫'调料' (Don't call main ingredients like meat or vegetables 调料 — those are 食材)

Origin & History

调 means to blend or season, 料 means ingredient or material — seasoning ingredients.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal