Usage note
盐表示做饭时常用的调味料。
yán biǎo shì zuò fàn shí cháng yòng de tiáo wèi liào。
Salt is a common seasoning used in cooking.
Context note
盐常用于厨房、味道和健康。
yán cháng yòng yú chú fáng 、 wèi dào hé jiàn kāng。
Salt is often used in the kitchen, with taste, and with health.
5 examples
请加一点盐。
qǐng jiā yì diǎn yán。
Please add a little salt.
这个汤有点咸，因为盐放多了。
zhè ge tāng yǒu diǎn xián， yīn wèi yán fàng duō le。
This soup is a little salty because too much salt was added.
我买了一包盐。
wǒ mǎi le yì bāo yán。
I bought a pack of salt.
盐放在厨房里。
yán fàng zài chú fáng lǐ。
The salt is in the kitchen.
少吃盐对身体好。
shǎo chī yán duì shēn tǐ hǎo。
Eating less salt is good for the body.
5 mini stories
妈妈做菜时总会加一点盐。
mā ma zuò cài shí zǒng huì jiā yì diǎn yán。
Mom always adds a little salt when cooking.
这道菜的盐太多了。
zhè dào cài de yán tài duō le。
This dish has too much salt.
他把盐递给了我。
tā bǎ yán dì gěi le wǒ。
He handed the salt to me.
厨房里没有盐了。
chú fáng lǐ méi yǒu yán le。
There is no salt left in the kitchen.
医生提醒我少吃盐。
yī shēng tí xǐng wǒ shǎo chī yán。
The doctor reminded me to eat less salt.
Mini dialogue
帮忙做饭
A
可以帮我把盐拿过来吗？
Kěyǐ bāng wǒ bǎ yán ná guòlái ma?
Can you help me bring the salt over?
B
好的，给你盐。要放多少？
Hǎo de, gěi nǐ yán. Yào fàng duōshǎo?
Okay, here's the salt. How much should we add?
汤太淡
A
你尝尝汤，味道怎么样？
Nǐ cháng cháng tāng, wèidào zěnmeyàng?
Taste the soup, how is the flavor?
B
有点淡，好像忘了放盐。
Yǒudiǎn dàn, hǎoxiàng wàng le fàng yán.
A bit bland, it seems we forgot to add salt.
Related words and contrasts
contrast
糖
táng
sugar
salt is salty, sugar is sweet; both are common seasonings
related
咸
xián
salty
the taste that salt gives to food