Definitions

gēng thick soup

Etymology

A pleasing lamb  soup

About

The character "羹" originally denoted a specific type of substantial soup, typically prepared with lamb and thickened with grains, as evidenced by its structural composition that combines the component "羔" for lamb with "美" conveying a sense of delicacy or desirability, directly reflecting the dish's valued status in early culinary contexts. Over time, while the visual form remained consistent, the term's semantic scope expanded significantly from its narrow association with meat-based broths to encompass a wide range of thickened liquids, including vegetable stews and sweet, pudding-like soups, thereby shifting from a particular recipe to a broader categorical term for viscous consommés without losing its fundamental connection to prepared, luxurious nourishment.

Etymology Hide

Seal etymology image
Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)
Seal etymology image
Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)
Seal etymology image
Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)
Seal etymology image
Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Qin dynasty (221-206 BC)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)
Traditional Modern
Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

我爱喝热汤。

Wǒ ài hē rè gēngtāng.

I love to drink hot thick soup.

晚餐有羊肉

Wǎncān yǒu yángròu gēng.

There is mutton soup for dinner.

他用匙喝

Tā yòng gēngchí hē gēng.

He uses a soup spoon to eat the soup.

味道有点咸。

Zhè gēng wèidao yǒudiǎn xián.

This soup tastes a little salty.

妈妈做的特别香。

Māma zuò de gēng tèbié xiāng.

The soup mom made is especially fragrant.

我喜欢在冬天喝热

Wǒ xǐhuān zài dōngtiān hē rè gēng.

I like to drink hot soup in the winter.

这碗的营养很丰富。

Zhè wǎn gēng de yíngyǎng hěn fēngfù.

This bowl of soup is very nutritious.

的时候要小心火候。

Zuò gēng de shíhòu yào xiǎoxīn huǒhòu.

You must be careful with the heat when making soup.