麻婆豆腐 Meaning
/má pó dòu fu/
- casual
Mapo tofu is a classic Sichuan dish consisting of soft, silken tofu cubes set in a spicy, numbing, and oily sauce. The sauce is typically flavored with doubanjiang (fermented broad bean paste), fermented black beans, aromatics like garlic and ginger, and a generous dusting of Sichuan peppercorns, which provide the signature "mala" sensation. It is a staple of home-style Chinese cooking and a hallmark of Sichuan cuisine. While traditionally made with minced beef or pork, vegetarian versions are common. It is best enjoyed steaming hot over a bowl of plain white rice, which helps balance the intense heat and saltiness of the sauce.
麻婆豆腐 in Conversation
Ordering at a restaurant
- A: 我们要一份麻婆豆腐，记得要多放点花椒。We'd like one order of Mapo tofu, please make sure to add extra Sichuan peppercorns.
- B: 没问题，要不要中辣还是特辣？No problem, would you like medium spicy or extra spicy?
The request for 'extra peppercorns' is a common way to ask for more of the numbing sensation.
Discussing dinner
- A: 今天太冷了，我想吃点热乎的。It's so cold today, I want to eat something hot.
- B: 那我们去吃麻婆豆腐配米饭吧？Shall we go have Mapo tofu with rice then?
Mapo tofu is frequently cited as a 'rice killer' (饭扫光) because it is so appetizing.
Examples
我最喜欢吃的菜是麻婆豆腐。
My favorite dish to eat is Mapo tofu.
/wǒ zuì xǐ huān chī de cài shì má pó dòu fu./
这家川菜馆的麻婆豆腐做得非常地道，又麻又辣。
This Sichuan restaurant makes very authentic Mapo tofu that is both numbing and spicy.
/zhè jiā chuān cài guǎn de má pó dòu fu zuò de fēi cháng dì dào, yòu má yòu là./
麻婆豆腐不仅要色泽红亮，还要讲究豆腐的嫩滑和花椒的酥麻。
A good Mapo tofu should not only have a vibrant red color, but also emphasize the silky texture of the tofu and the numbing sensation of the peppercorns.
/má pó dòu fu bù jǐn yào sè zé hóng liàng, hái yào jiǎng jiù dòu fu de nèn huá hé huā jiāo de sū má./