About
The character "炖" is a relatively late development in the history of Chinese writing, specifically created to denote the culinary method of stewing or braising food slowly in a covered vessel with liquid. Its structure combines the fire radical (火) on the left, indicating the application of heat, with the phonetic component "屯" on the right, which also carries a sense of bundling or gathering, hinting at the enclosed, slow-cooking process. This character originally existed as a variant of the character "燉", which itself featured the phonetic element "敦" suggesting thickness and solidity, an allusion to the rich, concentrated flavors developed through the cooking method. Over time, the simpler form "炖" became the standard, emphasizing the direct action of fire ("火") upon the ingredients gathered ("屯") in the pot, while its meaning has remained consistently specific to this moist-heat cooking technique from its inception.
Example Sentences Hide
妈妈在炖鸡汤。
我喜欢吃炖牛肉。
他炖了一锅排骨。
炖菜需要很长时间。
如果你饿了，我炖了汤。
慢火炖肉更加美味。
奶奶用砂锅炖了羊肉。
为了保持营养，她选择了炖煮的方式。