The Eater's Guide to Chinese Characters
Editorial Reviews
Review
Florence Fabricant New York Times : "If you want to eat the way the Chinese do when you are in Chinatown but have noo familiarity with Mandarin or Cantonese, how do you face the untranslated lists of dishes posted on walls or menus? The Eater's Guide to Chinese Characters, by James D. McCawley, a paperback edition of a book first published in 1984, could help. . . . In the end, you might be able to tell whether those stuffed buns are baked or steamed, and whether something called thinken legs is really chicken feet. Chinese characters are often more specific in describing dishes, and English translations are error prone. For example, a dish called Two Crisp in English is actually pig tripe and dried squid. The book also has a rudimentary guide to pronounciation."
Florence Fabricant New York Times : "If you want to eat the way the Chinese do when you are in Chinatown but have noo familiarity with Mandarin or Cantonese, how do you face the untranslated lists of dishes posted on walls or menus? The Eater's Guide to Chinese Characters, by James D. McCawley, a paperback edition of a book first published in 1984, could help. . . . In the end, you might be able to tell whether those stuffed buns are baked or steamed, and whether something called thinken legs is really chicken feet. Chinese characters are often more specific in describing dishes, and English translations are error prone. For example, a dish called Two Crisp in English is actually pig tripe and dried squid. The book also has a rudimentary guide to pronounciation."
Book Description
Lauded by Calvin Trillin as a man who "does not have to make to with translations like 'Shredded Three Kinds' in Chinese restaurants," in The Eater's Guide to Chinese Characters, James D. McCawley offers everyone a guide to deciphering the mysteries of Chinese menus and the opportunity to enjoy new eating experiences. An accessible primer as well as a handy reference, this book shows how Chinese characters are written and referred to, both in script and in type. McCawley provides a guide to pronunciation and includes helpful exercises so users can practice ordering. His novel system of arranging the extensive glossary--which ranges from basics such as "rice" and "fish" to exotica like "Buddha Jumps Wall"--enables even the beginner to find characters quickly and surely. He also includes the nonstandard forms of characters that often turn up on menus.
With this guide in hand, English speakers hold the key to a world of tantalizing--and otherwise unavailable--Chinese dishes.
The Eater's Guide to Chinese Characters,James D. McCawley,University Of Chicago Press,0226555925,Chinese,Chinese language,Cookery,Cookery, Chinese,Cooking,Foreign Language - Dictionaries / Phrase Books,General,Terminology,Word formation,Foreign Language Study / Chinese,National & regional cuisine,Writing skills
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