说到中国菜，咱们的食材可真是丰富得不得了！但是你有没有遇到过这种尴尬情况：想跟外国朋友介绍咱们的家常菜，结果一说到北瓜、南瓜、冬瓜、丝瓜这些瓜类，人家就蒙了？更别提什么荸荠、慈菇、茭白这些听起来就很中国风的蔬菜了。其实啊，这些老外没见过的中国食材，翻译起来还真是个技术活儿。有些可以直接音译，有些得描述性翻译，还有些干脆就得解释半天。

一、瓜类

1. 南瓜 (Pumpkin vs Squash)

南瓜算是比较好翻译的，因为老外也有类似的东西。不过要注意，pumpkin通常指的是橙色的、万圣节用的那种大南瓜，而中国菜里常用的南瓜更接近winter squash或者kabocha squash。

例句：

- We're making pumpkin soup tonight. (我们今晚做南瓜汤。)

- Chinese winter squash is sweeter than regular pumpkin. (中国的南瓜比普通南瓜更甜。)

2. 北瓜 (Acorn Squash/Ornamental Gourd)

北瓜这个词让很多人困惑，因为它在不同地区指的是不同的东西。最准确的翻译是ornamental gourd或者decorative squash，因为北瓜主要是观赏用的。

例句：

- This ornamental gourd is called "bei gua" in Chinese. (这种观赏葫芦中文叫北瓜。)

3. 冬瓜 (Winter Melon/Wax Gourd)

冬瓜的英文名很直接，就是winter melon，也叫wax gourd，因为表面有蜡质层。

例句：

- Winter melon soup is very refreshing in summer. (冬瓜汤在夏天很清爽。)

- The wax gourd can grow incredibly large. (冬瓜可以长得非常大。)

4. 丝瓜 (Luffa/Sponge Gourd)

丝瓜的英文是luffa或者sponge gourd，因为老了之后可以当海绵用。

例句：

- Young luffa is tender and delicious when stir-fried. (嫩丝瓜炒起来很嫩很好吃。)

- Mature sponge gourds are used as natural scrubbers. (成熟的丝瓜被用作天然擦洗工具。)

5. 苦瓜 (Bitter Melon/Bitter Gourd)

苦瓜的翻译很直接，就是bitter melon或bitter gourd。

例句：

- Bitter melon is believed to help control blood sugar. (苦瓜被认为有助于控制血糖。)

- Many foreigners can't stand the taste of bitter gourd. (很多外国人受不了苦瓜的味道。)

二、根茎类蔬菜

1. 荸荠 (Water Chestnut)

荸荠的英文是water chestnut，虽然名字里有栗子，但其实跟栗子没关系。

例句：

- Water chestnuts add a nice crunch to stir-fries. (荸荠给炒菜增加了很好的脆嫩口感。)

- Fresh water chestnuts are much better than canned ones. (新鲜荸荠比罐装的好吃多了。)

2. 慈菇 (Arrowhead/Duck Potato)

慈菇的英文是arrowhead或者duck potato，因为叶子像箭头，鸭子喜欢吃。

例句：

- Arrowhead tubers are popular in Chinese New Year dishes. (慈菇在中国新年菜肴中很受欢迎。)

- Duck potato has a slightly bitter taste when raw. (生慈菇有轻微的苦味。)

3. 莲藕 (Lotus Root)

莲藕比较好翻译，就是lotus root，老外也有一定的了解。

例句：

- Lotus root slices look beautiful with their hole patterns. (莲藕片的孔洞图案看起来很美。)

- Stuffed lotus root with sticky rice is a traditional dessert. (糯米莲藕是传统甜品。)

4. 山药 (Chinese Yam/Nagaimo)

山药的英文是Chinese yam或者nagaimo（日语借词）。

例句：

- Chinese yam becomes slimy when grated. (山药磨碎后会变得黏滑。)

- Nagaimo is believed to be good for digestion. (山药被认为有助于消化。)

三、叶菜类

1. 茭白 (Water Bamboo/Manchurian Wild Rice)

茭白的翻译比较复杂，可以说water bamboo或者Manchurian wild rice stem。

例句：

- Water bamboo shoots are crispy and sweet. (茭白笋脆嫩甘甜。)

- Manchurian wild rice stems are rarely seen outside Asia. (茭白在亚洲以外很少见。)

2. 苋菜 (Amaranth Greens)

苋菜的英文是amaranth greens或者Chinese spinach。

例句：

- Amaranth greens turn the cooking water red. (苋菜会把煮菜的水染红。)

- Chinese spinach is rich in iron and vitamins. (苋菜富含铁和维生素。)

3. 空心菜 (Water Spinach/Morning Glory)

空心菜叫water spinach或者morning glory，茎是空心的。

例句：

- Water spinach grows quickly in warm weather. (空心菜在温暖的天气里长得很快。)

- Morning glory vegetables are hollow inside. (空心菜里面是空的。)

4. 豆苗 (Pea Shoots/Snow Pea Leaves)

豆苗就是pea shoots或者snow pea leaves。

例句：

- Pea shoots are considered a delicacy in Chinese cuisine. (豆苗在中国菜里被视为美味。)

- Snow pea leaves are tender and sweet. (豆苗嫩滑甘甜。)

四、菌菇类

1. 金针菇 (Enoki Mushrooms)

金针菇用日语借词enoki mushrooms，也叫needle mushrooms。

例句：

- Enoki mushrooms have a delicate, mild flavor. (金针菇味道清淡细腻。)

- Needle mushrooms are great in hot pot. (金针菇在火锅里很棒。)

2. 茶树菇 (Tea Tree Mushrooms)

茶树菇直译为tea tree mushrooms或者poplar mushrooms。

例句：

- Tea tree mushrooms have a nutty flavor. (茶树菇有坚果味。)

- Poplar mushrooms are excellent for braising. (茶树菇很适合红烧。)

3. 杏鲍菇 (King Oyster Mushrooms)

杏鲍菇叫king oyster mushrooms或者king trumpet mushrooms。

例句：

- King oyster mushrooms have a meaty texture. (杏鲍菇有肉质口感。)

- King trumpet mushrooms can be sliced and grilled. (杏鲍菇可以切片烤制。)

五、豆制品和特殊食材

1. 腐竹 (Dried Tofu Skin/Yuba)

腐竹可以说dried tofu skin或者用日语借词yuba。

例句：

- Dried tofu skin needs to be soaked before cooking. (腐竹烹饪前需要泡发。)

- Yuba has a chewy, satisfying texture. (腐竹有嚼劲，很有饱腹感。)

2. 千张 (Thin Tofu Sheets)

千张叫thin tofu sheets或者tofu wraps。

例句：

- Thin tofu sheets are perfect for wrapping fillings. (千张很适合包馅。)

- Tofu wraps can be used like spring roll wrappers. (千张可以像春卷皮一样使用。)

3. 油豆腐 (Fried Tofu Puffs)

油豆腐是fried tofu puffs或者tofu bubbles。

例句：

- Fried tofu puffs absorb flavors beautifully. (油豆腐能很好地吸收味道。)

- Tofu bubbles are hollow inside. (油豆腐里面是空的。)

六、调料和香料

1. 花椒 (Sichuan Peppercorns)

花椒是Sichuan peppercorns，虽然不是胡椒，但习惯这样叫。

例句：

- Sichuan peppercorns create a numbing sensation. (花椒产生麻木感。)

- These aren't actually peppercorns, but they're called that. (这些其实不是胡椒粒，但习惯这样叫。)

2. 豆豉 (Black Bean Sauce/Fermented Black Beans)

豆豉叫fermented black beans或者black bean sauce。

例句：

- Fermented black beans add umami to dishes. (豆豉给菜肴增加鲜味。)

- Black bean sauce is salty and pungent. (豆豉酱咸而刺鼻。)

3. 桂皮 (Chinese Cinnamon/Cassia Bark)

桂皮是Chinese cinnamon或者cassia bark，跟西式肉桂不完全一样。

例句：

- Chinese cinnamon is stronger than regular cinnamon. (桂皮比普通肉桂味道更浓。)

- Cassia bark is essential in Chinese five-spice. (桂皮是中式五香粉的必需品。)

练习题

一、选择题

1. "冬瓜" 的正确英文翻译是：

A) Winter squash  B) Winter melon  C) White gourd  D) Ice melon

2. "荸荠" 在英语中被称为：

A) Water chestnut  B) Chinese chestnut  C) Water walnut  D) Pond nut

3. "花椒" 的标准英文名称是：

A) Chinese pepper  B) Flower pepper  C) Sichuan peppercorns  D) Numbing spice

4. "金针菇" 通常被翻译为：

A) Golden mushrooms  B) Needle mushrooms  C) Enoki mushrooms  D) 以上都对

二、翻译题

将以下中文食材翻译成英文：

1. 苦瓜

2. 茭白

3. 腐竹

4. 空心菜

5. 慈菇

6. 豆豉

7. 苋菜

8. 杏鲍菇

三、情境对话题

你在餐厅向外国朋友介绍以下菜品，请用英语解释其中的食材：

1. 冬瓜排骨汤

2. 腐竹炒木耳

3. 蒜蓉空心菜

4. 茭白炒肉丝

5. 苦瓜炒蛋

四、描述性翻译练习

对于以下没有直接英文对应词的食材，请用描述性方法翻译：

1. 鸡头米

2. 蒿子杆

3. 韭黄

4. 紫苏

5. 马齿苋

参考答案：

选择题：1-B, 2-A, 3-C, 4-D

翻译题：1. Bitter melon/gourd 2. Water bamboo/Manchurian wild rice 3. Dried tofu skin/Yuba 4. Water spinach/Morning glory 5. Arrowhead/Duck potato 6. Fermented black beans 7. Amaranth greens/Chinese spinach 8. King oyster/trumpet mushrooms

情境对话参考：1. This is winter melon and pork rib soup. Winter melon is like a mild-flavored large squash. 2. This is dried tofu skin stir-fried with wood ear mushrooms. 3. This is water spinach with garlic - the vegetable has hollow stems. 4. This is water bamboo shoots with pork strips. 5. This is bitter melon scrambled with eggs - bitter melon is very healthy but has an acquired taste.

描述性翻译参考：1. Fox nut seeds (round seeds that look like small chicken heads) 2. Chrysanthemum stems (crispy stems similar to celery) 3. Chinese garlic chives (yellow, milder version of green chives) 4. Japanese mint herb (aromatic leaf used for garnish) 5. Purslane (succulent leafy vegetable, also called pigweed)