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Daily Chinese Expressions (Beginner)

It’s a Piece of Cake!

How to Write “It’s A Piece of Cake” In Chinese

        Lucy: Hey, Xiao Ming, can you explain this Chinese expression to me?

Xiao Ming:  Sure! Let’s see here...Oh, you mean “小菜一碟 (xiăo cài yì dié)?” “小菜 (Xiăo cài)” is a kind of side dish, which is really easy to make. “一碟 (Yì dié)” means one plate. So “小菜一碟 (xiăo cài yì dié)” literally means a serving from a small dish. It’s more frequently used to indicate something really easy to do. In English you’d say “a piece of cake” or “easy as pie.”

Lucy:  Oh, I get it. For example, “跳舞对我来说是小菜一碟。(Tiào wŭ duì wŏ lái shuō shì xiăo cài yì dié.) Dancing is a piece of cake for me.”

Xiao Ming: Exactly. You’ve got it now.

Example:

           Annie, nĭ huì zuò táng cuò páigŭ?
  Lisa:Annie, 你 会   做   糖    醋   排骨?    
           Annie, can you make Sweet and Sour Spareribs?

         Dāngrán. Nà zhĭ shì xiăo cài yì dié.
Annie:当然。 那  只  是  小   菜 一 碟。    
         Sure. It’s a piece of cake!

Send us a comment and let us know what you think about the phrase “小菜一碟 (xiăo cài yì dié)!”