shípǔ: 食谱 - Recipe, Cookbook, Menu

• Keywords: 食谱, shipu, Chinese recipe, Chinese cookbook, how to say recipe in Chinese, Chinese menu, cooking in Chinese, Chinese food, 菜谱, 菜单, pinyin recipe, what is shipu
• Summary: 食谱 (shípǔ) is the essential Chinese word for “recipe” and “cookbook”. Whether you're searching for how to make authentic Mapo Tofu online, following a family guide to making dumplings, or buying a book on Sichuan cuisine, 食谱 is the term you need. This page breaks down its meaning, cultural significance, and practical use, helping you distinguish it from similar words like 菜单 (càidān) and truly understand how to talk about cooking in Chinese.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): shípǔ
• Part of Speech: Noun
• HSK Level: HSK 4
• Concise Definition: A set of instructions for preparing a dish; a cookbook; a list of dishes for a meal plan.
• In a Nutshell: 食谱 (shípǔ) is your go-to word for “recipe.” It's a plan or guide for making food. Think of it as a “food map” that tells you the ingredients and steps needed to get to a delicious final dish. It can refer to a single recipe or an entire collection of them, like in a cookbook.

• 食 (shí): This character means “food” or “to eat.” The ancient pictograph shows a mouth under a container with a lid, representing a vessel full of food ready to be eaten.
• 谱 (pǔ): This character means “chart,” “list,” “manual,” or “register.” It's used in words like “genealogy” (家谱, jiāpǔ) and “music score” (乐谱, yuèpǔ). It implies an organized, systematic record.
• When combined, 食谱 (shípǔ) literally translates to “food chart” or “eating manual,” a perfect and logical description for a recipe or cookbook.

In Chinese culture, where food is paramount, a 食谱 is more than just a technical list of instructions. It is a vessel of tradition, family, and regional identity. Compared to a typical Western recipe that often demands scientific precision (e.g., “150 grams of flour,” “bake at 180°C”), traditional Chinese 食谱 can be more intuitive and experience-based. They often use approximate measurements like 少许 (shǎoxǔ), meaning “a little bit,” or 适量 (shìliàng), “an appropriate amount.” This reflects a culinary philosophy where cooking is seen as an art form, relying on the cook's senses and experience rather than strict adherence to measurement. A 食谱 is often a starting point, a guide that is adapted and perfected over time. Furthermore, family recipes (家传食谱, jiāchuán shípǔ) are cherished heirlooms, passed down through generations. They represent a tangible link to one's ancestors and are a core part of preserving family heritage. Sharing a 食谱 is an act of generosity and trust.

食谱 is a very common word used in daily life, both online and offline.

• In the Kitchen: You use it when talking about cooking from instructions. “我需要一个好一点的咕咾肉食谱” (Wǒ xūyào yī ge hǎo yīdiǎn de gūlǎoròu shípǔ) - “I need a better recipe for sweet and sour pork.”
• Online and Apps: The internet is the world's biggest cookbook. Chinese speakers constantly search for “食谱” online. Popular cooking apps like “下厨房” (Xiàchúfáng) are essentially massive databases of user-submitted 食谱.
• As a “Meal Plan”: It can also refer to a prescribed diet or meal plan, often from a doctor or nutritionist. For example, a “slimming recipe/plan” would be a 减肥食谱 (jiǎnféi shípǔ).
• Formal Contexts: For a formal banquet or event, 食谱 can be used to describe the planned menu of dishes, though 菜单 (càidān) is far more common for a restaurant menu.

• Example 1:
  • 你能把这个汤的食谱写给我吗？
  • Pinyin: Nǐ néng bǎ zhège tāng de shípǔ xiě gěi wǒ ma?
  • English: Can you write down the recipe for this soup for me?
  • Analysis: A very common and direct way to ask for a recipe from a friend or family member.
• Example 2:
  • 我在网上找到了一个很简单的家常菜食谱。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ zài wǎngshàng zhǎodào le yī ge hěn jiǎndān de jiāchángcài shípǔ.
  • English: I found a very simple recipe for a home-style dish online.
  • Analysis: Highlights the modern use of searching for recipes online. 家常菜 (jiāchángcài) means “home-style cooking.”
• Example 3:
  • 这本食谱里全都是四川菜的做法。
  • Pinyin: Zhè běn shípǔ lǐ quán dōu shì Sìchuāncài de zuòfǎ.
  • English: This cookbook is entirely filled with methods for making Sichuan dishes.
  • Analysis: Here, 食谱 clearly means “cookbook.” 本 (běn) is the measure word for books.
• Example 4:
  • 这个食谱是我奶奶传下来的。
  • Pinyin: Zhège shípǔ shì wǒ nǎinai chuán xiàlái de.
  • English: This recipe was passed down from my grandmother.
  • Analysis: This sentence illustrates the cultural role of recipes as family heritage. 传下来 (chuán xiàlái) means “to pass down.”
• Example 5:
  • 你只要完全按照食谱做，就不会失败。
  • Pinyin: Nǐ zhǐyào wánquán ànzhào shípǔ zuò, jiù bù huì shībài.
  • English: As long as you follow the recipe exactly, you won't fail.
  • Analysis: 按照 (ànzhào) means “according to” and is frequently used with 食谱.
• Example 6:
  • 医生给了我一份健康食谱，要求我少吃油。
  • Pinyin: Yīshēng gěi le wǒ yī fèn jiànkāng shípǔ, yāoqiú wǒ shǎo chī yóu.
  • English: The doctor gave me a healthy diet plan, requiring me to eat less oil.
  • Analysis: Shows the usage of 食谱 as a “diet plan” or “regimen.” 一份 (yī fèn) is a common measure word for documents.
• Example 7:
  • 这道菜的食谱太复杂了，我看不懂。
  • Pinyin: Zhè dào cài de shípǔ tài fùzá le, wǒ kàn bù dǒng.
  • English: The recipe for this dish is too complicated, I can't understand it.
  • Analysis: A simple, practical sentence for a beginner learner expressing difficulty.
• Example 8:
  • 很多手机应用都提供免费的食谱。
  • Pinyin: Hěn duō shǒujī yìngyòng dōu tígōng miǎnfèi de shípǔ.
  • English: Many mobile apps provide free recipes.
  • Analysis: Connects the term to modern technology. 手机应用 (shǒujī yìngyòng) is “mobile app.”
• Example 9:
  • 他的成功秘诀就是一份秘密食谱。
  • Pinyin: Tā de chénggōng mìjué jiùshì yī fèn mìmì shípǔ.
  • English: His secret to success is a secret recipe.
  • Analysis: A metaphorical use, similar to the English phrase “secret recipe” or “secret sauce.”
• Example 10:
  • 我买了一本素食食谱，想尝试吃得更健康。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ mǎi le yī běn sùshí shípǔ, xiǎng chángshì chī de gèng jiànkāng.
  • English: I bought a vegetarian cookbook because I want to try eating healthier.
  • Analysis: Demonstrates how to specify the type of recipe. 素食 (sùshí) means “vegetarian food.”

The most common point of confusion for learners is distinguishing 食谱 (shípǔ) from 菜单 (càidān).

• 食谱 (shípǔ) = HOW to make food (Recipe / Cookbook)
  • You follow a 食谱 in your kitchen.
  • It contains ingredients and steps.
  • Example: 我需要一个饺子食谱。 (Wǒ xūyào yī ge jiǎozi shípǔ.) - “I need a recipe for dumplings.”
• 菜单 (càidān) = WHAT food you can order (Menu)
  • You read a 菜单 in a restaurant.
  • It contains dish names and prices.
  • Example: 服务员，请给我菜单。 (Fúwùyuán, qǐng gěi wǒ càidān.) - “Waiter, please give me the menu.”
  • Incorrect Usage: Never say “请给我食谱” in a restaurant when you want to order food. They will be very confused and might think you want to know their secret cooking instructions!

Another similar term is 菜谱 (càipǔ). In most everyday situations, 食谱 and 菜谱 are interchangeable. 菜 (cài) means “dish,” so 菜谱 (càipǔ) literally means “dish recipe.” It can feel slightly more focused on individual dishes, whereas 食谱 (shípǔ), meaning “food recipe,” feels a bit broader and is more commonly used for entire cookbooks or dietary plans. For a beginner, you can treat them as synonyms.

• 菜单 (càidān) - Restaurant menu; a list of available dishes to order, not how to make them.
• 菜谱 (càipǔ) - A very close synonym for 食谱, often used interchangeably.
• 做法 (zuòfǎ) - Method; way of making something. You can ask “这个菜的做法是什么？” (What's the method for making this dish?), which is similar to asking for the recipe.
• 食材 (shícái) - Ingredients; the raw materials you use to cook, as listed in a 食谱.
• 烹饪 (pēngrèn) - The art or act of cooking; a more formal term than “做饭 (zuòfàn)”.
• 调料 (tiáoliào) - Seasoning, spices, condiments. A key part of any 食谱.
• 步骤 (bùzhòu) - Step; procedure. Recipes are made up of many 步骤.
• 菜系 (càixì) - Regional cuisine (e.g., Sichuan Cuisine, Cantonese Cuisine). A 食谱 often belongs to a specific 菜系.
• 下厨房 (xiàchúfáng) - Lit. “to go down to the kitchen.” A very popular Chinese recipe website/app and a common verb phrase for “to cook.”