Kung Pao Chicken: Spicy Chicken with Peanuts Explained

Meaning 1：Spicy chicken with peanuts (Kung Pao Chicken)

Kung Pao Chicken 🔊

/kʊŋ paʊ ˈtʃɪkɪn/

A popular Chinese dish made with diced chicken, peanuts, vegetables, and chili peppers, known for its spicy and tangy flavor.

Kung Pao Chicken dish with chili peppers and peanuts

Spicy chicken with peanuts 🔊

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/ˈspaɪsi ˈtʃɪkɪn wɪð ˈpiːnʌts/

A classic Chinese stir-fry dish featuring diced chicken, roasted peanuts, chili peppers, and a savory-spicy sauce, often served with rice.

📁 Category：Diet & Health 🔖 Level：Intermediate

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Root Explanation

Kung Pao originates from Chinese 'Gong Bao', a title for official Ding Baozhen.

💡 Mnemonic

Kung Pao sounds like 'Kung Pow' — imagine a powerful spicy kick from chili and peanuts.

📖 Example

Whenever I go to a Chinese restaurant, I almost always order Kung Pao Chicken because I love the combination of spicy chicken and crunchy peanuts. 🔊 I often order Kung Pao Chicken at Chinese restaurants because I enjoy the mix of spicy chicken and crispy peanuts.

🔗 Collocations

order Kung Pao Chicken – request this dish from a menu

spicy Kung Pao Chicken – the dish with a hot and tangy flavor

homemade Kung Pao Chicken – the dish cooked at home

🔄 Synonyms

General Tso's Chicken (n.) – Another popular Chinese chicken dish with a sweet and spicy sauce.

Szechuan Chicken (n.) – A spicy stir-fried chicken dish from Sichuan cuisine.

Mapo Tofu (n.) – A popular Sichuan dish with tofu in a spicy sauce, similar in heat level.

🚫 Antonyms

Steamed Chicken (n.) – A mild, simple chicken dish without spicy seasoning.

📖 Cultural Story

Originating from Qing dynasty official Ding Baozhen, who loved spicy chicken. His cook named it after his title 'Gong Bao'.