羹

gēng

美 + 羔

Definitions

gēng thick soup

Etymology

A pleasing 美 lamb 羔 soup

About

羹 is an associative compound that combines 羔 (lamb) on top with 美 (delicious) below, directly reflecting the early Chinese practice of preparing a thick, richly flavored lamb broth as a prized delicacy. Originally denoting this specific meat stew, the character's meaning later broadened to any thick soup, broth, or viscous dish, whatever its ingredients.

Etymology Hide

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Clerical Qin dynasty (221-206 BC)

Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

我爱喝热羹汤。

Wǒ ài hē rè gēngtāng.

I love to drink hot thick soup.

晚餐有羊肉羹。

Wǎncān yǒu yángròu gēng.

There is mutton soup for dinner.

他用羹匙喝羹。

Tā yòng gēngchí hē gēng.

He uses a soup spoon to eat the soup.

这羹味道有点咸。

Zhè gēng wèidao yǒudiǎn xián.

This soup tastes a little salty.

妈妈做的羹特别香。

Māma zuò de gēng tèbié xiāng.

The soup mom made is especially fragrant.

我喜欢在冬天喝热羹。

Wǒ xǐhuān zài dōngtiān hē rè gēng.

I like to drink hot soup in the winter.

这碗羹的营养很丰富。

Zhè wǎn gēng de yíngyǎng hěn fēngfù.

This bowl of soup is very nutritious.

做羹的时候要小心火候。

Zuò gēng de shíhòu yào xiǎoxīn huǒhòu.

You must be careful with the heat when making soup.

Related Characters

Component: 美

Component: 羔

羹