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    Chinese Grammar

    Expressing 'oil' with 油 (yóu)

    Existence & Possession

    Explanation

    油 (yóu) means 'oil' and can refer to cooking oil, petroleum, or other oily substances depending on context. It is one of the seven daily necessities in the traditional Chinese saying 开门七件事 (the seven things needed to start the day). In cooking contexts, it usually refers to vegetable or animal cooking oil.

    Examples

    • 炒菜之前先在锅里放一点油。

      chǎo cài zhīqián xiān zài guō lǐ fàng yìdiǎn yóu.

      Before stir-frying, first put a little oil in the pan.

    • 这道菜用的是花生油，味道特别好。

      zhè dào cài yòng de shì huāshēngyóu, wèidào tèbié hǎo.

      This dish uses peanut oil, and the flavor is especially good.

    • 他不喜欢太油的食物，觉得不健康。

      tā bù xǐhuān tài yóu de shíwù, juéde bù jiànkāng.

      He doesn't like greasy food; he thinks it's unhealthy.

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    Expressing 'oil' with 油 (yóu) | Chinese Grammar