Chinese cooking shows are way more than just food tutorials—they're packed with language lessons and cultural insights that make learning Chinese fun and practical. When you watch chefs explain recipes in full Mandarin, you're picking up useful vocabulary about ingredients, cooking techniques, and food culture that you can actually use in real conversations.
In this post, we'll show you five awesome Chinese cooking shows perfect for language learners. Each one offers clear speaking that's easy to follow, plus you'll learn about Chinese food traditions you won't find in textbooks.
Why Watch Chinese Cooking Shows?
Learning Chinese can be tough, especially when your only practice comes from textbooks or grammar drills. That's where Chinese cooking shows come in - they make language learning practical, mouthwatering, and fun simultaneously!
Here's why you should add cooking shows to your Chinese learning routine:
- Natural language in context: Chefs speak at normal speed about things you can see happening on screen, helping you connect words with actions.
- Practical vocabulary: You'll pick up food terms, kitchen equipment names, and cooking verbs that you can actually use in real life.
- Cultural insights: Food is central to Chinese culture, and these shows teach you about regional specialities, traditional cooking methods, and the stories behind famous dishes.
- Visual learning: Even when you miss some words, you can follow along with the cooking process, making it less frustrating than other listening practices.
- Motivation boost: Learning feels less like work when it's tied to something enjoyable like cooking and eating!
Plus, when you watch regularly, you'll start recognizing patterns in speech and picking up common phrases without even trying. It's like learning by osmosis while watching something you'd enjoy anyway!
Best Chinese Cooking Shows
Xiaohao Food
Xiaohao Food breaks Chinese cooking into bite-sized, 3-episode chunks that won't overwhelm beginners. The channel focuses on authentic flavors while keeping instructions simple enough for non-native speakers to follow.
What sets this apart for Chinese students is its modern, casual language. You'll hear everyday phrases young Chinese people actually use, not the formal textbook stuff. The short episodes gradually help you build listening stamina, and they include repetitions of key terms, which reinforces your vocabulary without feeling like studying.
Flavorful Origins
Flavorful Origins (风味原产地) spotlights Chaoshan cuisine, a regional style many Chinese cuisine fans have yet to discover. Each episode zeroes in on a single traditional ingredient, tracking its journey from source to table.
This is a highly recommended Netflix cooking show because you'll pick up food names, cooking terms, and cultural expressions tied to specific regions. The show's format teaches you descriptive language patterns as narrators explain flavors, textures, and cooking methods.
Soac's Private Recipes
Soac's Private Recipes brings Taiwanese cooking styles into the mix, offering a different accent and regional vocabulary to expand your Chinese skills. Soac creates a friendly, home-kitchen atmosphere while demonstrating techniques that blend traditional methods with modern twists.
Language learners benefit from Soac's Taiwanese Mandarin, which helps train your ear to understand different accents and regional expressions. The show teaches you cooking verbs, measurement terms, and food adjectives specific to Taiwan.
Home Cooking Diary
Home Cooking Diary (家常菜日记) jumps right into quick, high-energy cooking without long introductions. The focus stays on sizzling woks, fast knife work, and bold flavors that define everyday Chinese home cooking. Episodes move at a brisk pace that keeps you engaged.
Here, you'll learn time-saving cooking phrases, kitchen shortcuts, and casual expressions families use when cooking together. The fast-paced format also trains your ears to catch Chinese at natural speeds, preparing you for real conversations better than slow, over-articulated language programs.
Chef Wang
Chef Wang Gang has built a massive following by breaking down complex Chinese cooking techniques into clear steps anyone can follow. As both chef and writer, he explains not just how to cook dishes but why certain techniques matter—giving context that deepens your understanding of Chinese food culture.
This channel stands out for language learners because Wang explains cooking theory using specialized terminology that's understandable for regular foodies. His detailed instructions teach you sequential language patterns and transitional phrases. You'll also learn formal explanation structures that will help with presentations or describing processes in Chinese.
Basic Chinese Words For Cooking
To help you prepare to watch these cooking shows, here are some basic Chinese words and phrases related to cooking. Having these terms in your pocket will make it easier to follow along with the chefs and pick up new vocabulary in context!
| English | Chinese (Simplified) | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| Cook | 烹饪 | Pēng rèn |
| Cut | 切 | Qiē |
| Chop | 剁 | Duò |
| Stir-fry | 炒 | Chǎo |
| Steam | 蒸 | Zhēng |
| Boil | 煮 | Zhǔ |
| Bake | 烤 | Kǎo |
| Ingredients | 原料 | Yuán liào |
| Rice | 米饭 | Mǐ fàn |
| Noodles | 面条 | Miàn tiáo |
| Vegetable | 蔬菜 | Shū cài |
| Meat | 肉 | Ròu |
| Salt | 盐 | Yán |
| Sugar | 糖 | Táng |
| Soy sauce | 酱油 | Jiàng yóu |
| Vinegar | 醋 | Cù |
| Wok | 炒锅 | Chǎo guō |
| Pot | 锅 | Guō |
| Knife | 刀 | Dāo |
| Chopsticks | 筷子 | Kuài zi |
| Delicious | 好吃 | Hǎo chī |
| How to make | 怎么做 | Zěn me zuò |
| Add | 加 | Jiā |
| Mix | 拌 | Bàn |
| Taste | 尝一尝 | Cháng yī cháng |
Basic Chinese Phrases For Cooking
When watching Chinese cooking shows, having some key phrases ready will make your experience much more rewarding. These basic expressions will help you catch what's happening on screen and start building your cooking vocabulary in Mandarin!
| English | Chinese (Simplified) | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| Let's get started | 我们开始吧 | Wǒmen kāishǐ ba |
| Add a little bit | 加一点 | Jiā yīdiǎn |
| Stir continuously | 不停地搅拌 | Bù tíng de jiǎo bàn |
| Cook until golden | 炒至金黄 | Chǎo zhì jīn huáng |
| Medium heat | 中火 | Zhōng huǒ |
| High heat | 大火 | Dà huǒ |
| Low heat | 小火 | Xiǎo huǒ |
| Season to taste | 调味 | Tiáo wèi |
| Let it simmer | 慢慢煮 | Màn màn zhǔ |
| Cut into slices | 切成片 | Qiē chéng piàn |
| Dice it | 切成丁 | Qiē chéng dīng |
| Perfect! | 完美! | Wán měi! |
| Too salty | 太咸了 | Tài xián le |
| Too spicy | 太辣了 | Tài là le |
| It's ready | 好了 | Hǎo le |
| Tastes good | 好吃 | Hǎo chī |
| Need more time | 需要多一点时间 | Xū yào duō yīdiǎn shíjiān |
| Turn off the heat | 关火 | Guān huǒ |
| Serve hot | 趁热吃 | Chèn rè chī |
| Bon appétit | 请慢用 | Qǐng màn yòng |
These phrases will pop up repeatedly in cooking shows, so learning them now will give you a head start. Most hosts use these expressions naturally, making them perfect for picking up proper pronunciation and timing.
Ready to Wok and Roll? Give Lingopie a Try!
Now that you've got these five amazing Chinese cooking shows on your radar, you're set to spice up your language-learning journey! Watching chefs chop, stir, and sizzle while explaining their techniques in Mandarin gives you real-world language practice that textbooks just can't match.
Remember, learning Chinese doesn't have to be all flashcards and grammar rules. With Lingopie, you can watch these cooking shows with interactive subtitles, vocabulary tracking, and personalized learning tools that make picking up new words feel natural. You'll catch on to food terms, cooking verbs, and cultural expressions while actually enjoying yourself!
Why not fire up your language skills today? Sign up for a free trial now to get started!
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I really learn Chinese by watching cooking shows?
Yes! Cooking shows are great for Chinese learning because they match words with actions. You see the chef say "切" (qiē) while cutting, giving you instant visual context. Studies show that linking vocabulary with physical actions boosts memory retention by up to 70%. Plus, you'll learn practical phrases you can actually use when ordering food or cooking with Chinese friends.
How long will it take to notice an improvement in my Chinese?
Most viewers report picking up basic cooking terms after just 2-3 episodes. For more noticeable improvement, watch at least 20-30 minutes of Chinese cooking content 3-4 times weekly. Your listening skills typically improve first (within 2-3 weeks), followed by vocabulary recognition. Many Lingopie users report being able to follow simple Chinese recipes after about two months of regular viewing.
Do I need subtitles when watching these cooking shows?
Beginners should start with dual subtitles (both Chinese and English) and gradually transition to Chinese-only as you progress. The visual nature of cooking shows makes them easier to follow than dramas or news, so many intermediate learners can understand the main points without any subtitles. Lingopie offers adjustable subtitle options that let you control exactly how much help you need.
Which show is best for absolute beginners?
Xiaohao Food works best for beginners due to its shorter episodes (under 15 minutes), clearer speaking style, and simpler vocabulary. The host speaks at a moderate pace and uses common everyday terms. Home Cooking Diary is also beginner-friendly, with its focus on basic home cooking techniques and straightforward explanations of common dishes that use repetitive vocabulary.
Can I find these shows with learning features like vocabulary tracking?
Yes! Platforms like Lingopie specifically design their streaming experience for language learners. You can click any word to see its definition, save vocabulary to personalized lists, practice with flashcards based on what you've watched, and even slow down playback speed. Unlike regular streaming services, Lingopie integrates these language tools directly into your watching experience, making it much easier to track your progress.
