成都 · Chengdu

Food

• 微辣。wēi là。Mild spice.微辣 is still hot. 不要辣 means no chili.
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• 来一份麻婆豆腐。lái yí fèn má pó dòufu。One mapo tofu.麻 is the numbing pepper. 辣 is the chili.
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• 我们两个人。wǒ men liǎng gè rén。There are two of us.Say it when you sit down for hotpot.
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• 清汤，不要辣。qīng tāng， bú yào là。The clear broth, no chili.Point at the pale pot, not the red one.
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Scenery

• 宽窄巷子怎么走？kuān zhǎi xiàngzi zěn me zǒu？How do I get to Kuanzhai Alleys?It is a restored street, busy in the evening.
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• 大熊猫基地怎么去？dà xióng māo jī dì zěn me qù？How do I get to the panda base?The full name is 成都大熊猫繁育研究基地. It is not in the center.
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• 请带我去春熙路。qǐng dài wǒ qù chūn xī lù。Please take me to Chunxi Road.春熙路 is the main shopping street.
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• 这儿可以坐吗？zhèr kě yǐ zuò ma？May I sit here?Useful in a teahouse when seats look free.
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Culture

• 这个是花椒吗？zhège shì huā jiāo ma？Is this Sichuan pepper?花椒 brings the 麻. Chili brings the 辣.
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• 我不能吃太辣。wǒ bù néng chī tài là。I can't eat food this spicy.Say it before the order, not after the bowl arrives.
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• 很巴适。hěn bā shì。Really comfortable.巴适 is Sichuan for pleasant. Use it when you like the meal.
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• 喝茶吗？hē chá ma？Shall we have tea?A short yes is 好.
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• Two broths

  Hotpot often has 红汤, the red spicy broth, and 清汤, the mild one. You can ask for both.

• Numb and hot

  麻 and 辣 are different. Mapo tofu has both. 微辣 lowers the chili. It does not remove the peppercorn.

• The pandas

  The panda base is a research center on the edge of the city. Go early. The animals rest when the day heats up.

One day

A day and a taste. Four lines to say, morning through evening. It is not a booking and not a ticket time.

A shop sign

Optional. A photo of a sign comes back as one phrase to say next. The photo is not stored. If the characters don't come back, the page does not invent a shop.