noun HSK 3
beef · cow meat
Meaning
牛肉 refers to beef, the meat that comes from cattle. It is one of the most common meat types in Chinese cuisine and appears in countless dishes across different regional cooking styles. The word literally means 'cow meat' and is used in both formal and informal contexts.
Usage
This is a neutral, standard term used in restaurants, markets, and everyday conversation. Chinese cuisine features beef in many preparations including stir-fries, noodle dishes, and hot pot. Common preparations include 红烧牛肉 (braised beef) and 牛肉面 (beef noodle soup).
Examples
- 01我想吃牛肉面。.I want to eat beef noodle soup.
- 02这家餐厅的牛肉很新鲜。.The beef at this restaurant is very fresh.
Characters
Measure words
- 块一块牛肉
- 片两片牛肉
- 斤三斤牛肉
Common collocations
- 牛肉面beef noodle soup
- 红烧牛肉braised beef in brown sauce
- 牛肉干beef jerky
- 炒牛肉stir-fried beef
Origin
This is a straightforward compound where 牛 (cow) combines with 肉 (meat) to specify the type of meat. This pattern is standard in Chinese for naming different meats.