宫爆鸡丁 Meaning
/gōng bào jī dīng/
- casual
Gong Bao Ji Ding, commonly known as Kung Pao Chicken, is a classic Sichuan-style dish featuring diced chicken stir-fried with peanuts, vegetables, and chili peppers. The mental image is a vibrant, glistening plate of tender chicken cubes coated in a savory, slightly sweet, and numbing-spicy sauce, topped with the satisfying crunch of roasted peanuts. While it is a staple of Chinese cuisine globally, the authentic Sichuan version is characterized by the distinct numbing sensation of "mala" (Sichuan peppercorns). It is a quintessential comfort food found in almost every Chinese restaurant, typically served with steamed white rice.
宫爆鸡丁 in Conversation
Deciding on dinner
- A: 今晚想吃点什么？What do you want to eat tonight?
- B: 点个宫爆鸡丁吧，特别下饭。Let's order Kung Pao Chicken; it's great with rice.
The phrase 下饭 (xià fàn) describes food that makes you want to eat more rice.
Ordering at a restaurant
- A: 我们要一份宫爆鸡丁，少放点辣。We'd like one Kung Pao Chicken, please make it less spicy.
- B: 好的，没问题。Alright, no problem.
It is common to request spice levels when ordering this dish.
Examples
我最喜欢吃宫爆鸡丁。
My favorite food is Kung Pao Chicken.
/wǒ zuì xǐ huān chī gōng bào jī dīng./
宫爆鸡丁里的花生米又脆又香。
The peanuts in the Kung Pao Chicken are crunchy and fragrant.
/gōng bào jī dīng lǐ de huā shēng mǐ yòu cuì yòu xiāng./
虽然这道宫爆鸡丁有点辣，但味道非常地道。
Although this Kung Pao Chicken is a bit spicy, the flavor is very authentic.
/suī rán zhè dào gōng bào jī dīng yǒu diǎn là, dàn wèi dào fēi cháng dì dào./