Mandarin Monday: A Complete Guide to Ordering Steak in Chinese

We here at the Beijinger love to sink our teeth into a juicy steak cooked just the way we like it. However, sometimes getting it cooked the way you like it or finding the right cut to cook at home is easier said than done here in China. So we’ve put together a complete guide for ordering steak (牛排 niúpái) in Chinese to make it super simple!

Ordering doneness

When ordering a steak in China, your server will normally ask “你要几分熟  nǐyào jǐfēn shú” which means “how would you like it cooked?” To reply you use the word 熟 shú*, which literally means “cooked”, preceded by how many minutes (分 fēn) you want it cooked for. You can see how the number of minutes correspond to English doneness below: 

• Rare: 一分熟 yìfēn shú

• Medium rare: 三分熟 sānfēn shú

• Medium: 五分熟 wǔfēnshú

• Medium well: 七分熟 : qīfēn shú

• Well done: 全熟 quánshú

* can also be pronounced as shóu.

Different types of beef

Here are some of the most common types of beef you’ll see here in Beijing:

• Angus beef: 安格斯牛 Āngésī niú

• Wagyu beef: 和牛 Hé niú

• US beef: 美国牛肉 Měiguó niúròu

• Argentinian beef: 阿根廷牛肉 Āgēntíng niúròu

• Australian beef: 澳洲牛肉 Àozhōu niúròu

• Grain-fed: 谷饲 gǔ sì

• Dry aged: 干式熟成 gānshì shúchéng

• Wet Aged: 湿式熟成 shīshì shúchéng

Different cuts of steak

Knowing different cuts of steak in Chinese is particularly useful if you’re planning on making yourself a nice steak at home and need help finding the right cut on waimai or your local shop. 

• Filet: 菲力牛排 fēilì niúpái

• Rib eye: 肋眼牛排 lèi yǎn niúpái

• Sirloin: 西冷牛排 xī lěng niúpái/牛脊肉 niú jí ròu

• T-Bone: T骨牛排 T gǔ niúpái

• New York Strip: 纽约西冷牛排 Niǔyuē xī lěng niúpái

• Tomahawk: 战斧牛排 zhànfǔ niúpái

• Bone-in: 带骨牛排 dài gǔ niúpái

• Short rib: 牛小排 niúxiǎopái

• Tenderloin: 牛里脊 niú lǐjǐ/牛柳 niúliǔ

• Porterhouse: 上等牛排 shàngděng niúpái 

• Flank: 扇面牛腩 shànmiàn niúnǎn

• Rump: 臀尖 tún jiān

• Shoulder: 牛肩 niú jiān

• Brisket: 胸腩 xiōng nǎn

• Shank: 牛腱子 niú jiànzi

Sauces

Lastly, here are some of the most common sauces usually offered to pair with your steak. 

• Mushroom sauce: 蘑菇汁 mógu zhī

• Black pepper sauce: 黑胡椒汁 hēihújiāo zhī

• Mustard sauce: 芥末汁 jièmòzhī

• Béarnaise sauce: 法式伯那西醬 fǎshì bó nà xī jiàng

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Images: Unsplash, Canva

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