Useful Mandarin Phrases: Thanksgiving

By Bridget O’Donnell, 2019-11-27 13:57:39

Thanksgiving is upon us. If you need a little bit of help when it comes to communicating in Chinese for this traditional American holiday, we’ve got you covered. Here’s a comprehensive list of useful Mandarin vocabulary and phrases that will come in handy just in time for your huoji (‘fire chicken,’ AKA turkey) feast!

Vocabulary

Thanksgiving
感恩节
Gǎn ēn jié

Feast / banquet
大餐 / 宴会
Dà cān / yàn huì

Turkey
火鸡
Huǒ jī

Roasted turkey
烤火鸡
Kǎo huǒ jī 

Ham
火腿
Huǒ tuǐ

Cranberry
红莓
Hóng méi

Cranberry sauce
红莓酱
Hóng méi jiàng

Mashed potatoes
土豆泥
Tǔ dòu ní

Gravy
肉汁
Ròu zhī

Stuffing
填料 / 内馅 
Tián liào / nèi xiàn

Corn
玉米
Yù mǐ

Yam
山药
​Shān yào

Squash
小南瓜
Xiǎo nán guā

Sweet potatoes
山芋/红薯 / 地瓜 / 番薯
Shān yù / hóng shǔ / dì guā /  fān shǔ

Dessert
甜点
Tián diǎn

Pie

Pài

Pumpkin
南瓜
Nán ɡuā 

Pumpkin pie
南瓜派
Nán ɡuā pài

Apple pie
苹果派
Píng guǒ pài

To celebrate
庆祝 / 过 
Qìng zhù / guò

Give thanks; gratitude; grateful; thankful; thanks
感谢
Gǎn ēn

Holiday / festival
节日
Jié rì

To spend time / reunite
团聚
Tuán jù

Mayflower
五月花号
Wǔ yuè huā hào

Pilgrim
清教徒 / 朝圣
Qīng jiào tú / cháo shèng

Native Americans
美洲原住民
Měi zhōu yuán zhù mín

United States
美国
Měi guó

Parade
游行
Yóu xíng 

American football
美式足球 / 橄榄球
Měi shì zú qiú / gǎn lǎn qiú

American football game
美式足球比赛
Měi shì zú qiú bǐ sài

Black Friday
黑色星期五
Hēi sè xīng qī wŭ

Phrases

Happy Thanksgiving!
感恩节快乐!
Gǎn ēn jié kuài lè!

How will you celebrate Thanksgiving?
你怎么庆祝感恩节?
Nǐ zěn me qìng zhù gǎn’ēn jié?

I’m going to spend time with my family and friends.
我要和家人朋友团聚
Wǒ yào hé jiā rén péng yǒu tuán jù.

Will you join our Thanksgiving feast?
你会加入我们的感恩节大餐吗?
Nǐ huì jiā rù wǒ men de gǎn ēn jié dà cān ma?

Do you like to eat …?
你喜欢吃。。。吗?
Nǐ xǐ huān chī… ma?

Would you like some …?
你要不要。。。?
Nǐ yào bù yào…?

Please pass the gravy.
请把肉汁递给我,好吗?
Qǐng bǎ ròu zhī dì gěi wǒ, hǎo ma?

Who do you give thanks for?
你要谢谢谁?
Nǐ yào xiè xiè shéi?

I want to thank...
我要谢谢。。。
Wǒ yào xièxiè...

[Cover image via Unsplash]