辣
là
spicy
辣 means spicy or hot. This is an essential word for ordering food in China, especially in Sichuan and Hunan regions where spicy food is the norm.
Example sentences
不要太辣。
Bú yào tài là.
Not too spicy, please.
你能吃辣的吗？
Nǐ néng chī là de ma?
Can you eat spicy food?
How to use 辣 in practice
辣 is a food & drink item that is easiest to learn inside a complete sentence. Read it with the pinyin là, then connect it to the meaning “spicy” before trying to use it from memory. The examples on this page show the phrase in context: 不要太辣。 / 你能吃辣的吗？.
When you practice 辣, do not stop at recognition. Say one example aloud, swap in a new person, place, object, or time word, and then use the phrase in a short answer. This turns a glossary entry into real Mandarin output and exposes word-order or pronunciation mistakes quickly.
Common learner mistake
A common learner mistake is to memorize 辣 only as “spicy” and then translate word by word from English. Instead, learn the whole chunk with the words around it. Notice which nouns, verbs, measure words, or polite markers appear before and after the phrase, and copy that pattern in your own sentence.
Mini practice prompt
Practice prompt: open Ordering food guide, start a short conversation, and use 辣 naturally in your first or second reply. If the sentence feels awkward, compare it with the examples above and try again with a smaller sentence.
Memory tip: review 辣 tomorrow by covering the English meaning, reading only là, and producing a sentence before checking the examples. Active recall helps this word survive beyond one reading session.
Practice related pages
FAQ
What are the levels of spiciness in Chinese?
Common phrases: 微辣 (mild spicy), 中辣 (medium spicy), 特辣 (extra spicy), and 不辣 (not spicy).
How can I remember 辣 faster?
Say 辣 inside a full sentence, change one detail, and repeat it in a realistic prompt. The combination of sound, meaning, and context is stronger than memorizing the translation alone.
Can I use 辣 in conversation practice?
Yes. Start with the example sentence, then use 辣 in a short AI conversation so you can see whether the surrounding word order and tone feel natural.
Published by AI Chinese Coach