to sauté

JLPT N5 8 strokes

Words with this Kanji

Meaning and Usage

The character primarily means "to sauté" or "to stir-fry," referring to cooking food quickly in a small amount of oil over high heat. It is a common cooking method in Chinese cuisine.

Extended Usage

Besides cooking, is also used metaphorically in contexts like "" (speculating in stocks) or "" (hype, promotion), where it implies active, often speculative or intensive activity.

Common Collocations

  • (chǎo cài): to stir-fry dishes, the most direct culinary use.
  • (chǎo gǔ): to speculate in stocks, a financial metaphor.
  • (chǎo fàn): fried rice, a very common dish.

Notes

When using in cooking, it usually involves quick, high-heat cooking with oil. Avoid confusing it with (zhǔ), which means to boil or simmer. In financial contexts, implies speculative trading rather than long-term investment.

Register and Tone

The word is neutral and widely used in both spoken and written Chinese. It is appropriate in casual conversation, cooking instructions, and financial discussions.

Example Sentences

Mom is stir-frying dishes in the kitchen, and the aroma fills the whole

This dish requires first sautéing onions, then adding other ingredients.

He likes to speculate in stocks and often follows the changes in the stock