Meaning and Usage
The character 拌 (bàn) primarily means "to mix" or "to stir together," especially in the context of food preparation. It is commonly used when combining ingredients like vegetables, sauces, or spices to create a dish.
Common Collocations
- 拌菜 (bàn cài): mixed dishes or salads
- 拌面 (bàn miàn): noodles mixed with sauce
- 拌酱 (bàn jiàng): mixed sauce
These collocations highlight its frequent use in culinary contexts.
Usage Notes
拌 is often used with food items and sauces, implying a thorough mixing or tossing to blend flavors. It differs from 搅拌 (jiǎobàn), which can imply more vigorous stirring or mechanical mixing. 拌 usually suggests a gentler, manual mixing.
Common Confusion
Learners sometimes confuse 拌 with 搅拌. Remember, 拌 is more about mixing ingredients together, often by hand, while 搅拌 can refer to stirring liquids or mixtures more intensively, sometimes mechanically.
Register and Tone
拌 is neutral and commonly used in everyday speech, especially in cooking contexts. It is not formal or literary but very practical and frequent in daily life.