餚 (yáo) - Delicacies — refers to sumptuous dishes, fine food, & often used in classical Chinese and compounds to

餚Tone 2

yáo ｜ 16 strokes ｜ radical:

嬿一

餚 · yáo

Delicacies — refers to sumptuous dishes, fine food, or banquet fare;

often used in classical Chinese and compounds to denote delicious prepared foods.

Delicacies — refers to sumptuous dishes, fine food,often used in classical Chinese and compounds to

Usage highlights

DelicaciesFine dishesRare delicaciesBanquet dishesAppetizersVegetarian dishes

Synonyms

  • 菜— dish; cuisine (more general)
  • 饌— food; provisions (classical)
  • 膳— meals; board (formal)

Antonyms

  • 飯— cooked rice; staple food (plain vs. delicacy)

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • The banquet featured exquisite delicacies (佳餚).
  • We enjoyed local specialties (地方風味餚) at the restaurant.
  • He prepared a feast of fine dishes (美餚) for the guests.
  • The table was laden with delicious food (珍餚).

Collocations

  • Delicacies(佳餚)
  • Fine dishes(美餚)
  • Rare delicacies(珍餚)
  • Banquet dishes(宴餚)
  • Appetizers(酒餚)
  • Vegetarian dishes(素餚)

Idioms

  • Fine wine and delicious dishes(美酒佳餚)
  • Rare delicacies from land and sea(山珍海餚)
  • Leftover food and cold rice(殘餚冷飯)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • 餚 appears in classical texts describing feasts and banquets, emphasizing culinary refinement.
  • In traditional Chinese culture, elaborate dishes (餚) were central to hospitality and celebration.
  • The character is less common in modern daily usage but persists in literary and formal contexts.

FAQ