无辣不欢
wú là bù huān
no meal is a pleasure without chilli; to be a chilli lover
Character by character
无wú
without
without
辣là
chilli
chilli
不bù
not
not
欢huān
happy
happy
Example
我爸是湖南人，无辣不欢，连吃饺子都要配辣椒酱。
My dad is from Hunan and can’t enjoy a meal without chilli; he even has chilli sauce with his dumplings.
Tone: neutral.
Usage and origin
You met it in the reading of 1-5. A modern set phrase on the frame 无X不欢 (无酒不欢, 无肉不欢), “no joy without X”. Said of people, often fondly: 他是个无辣不欢的人.
Learn this in Lesson 20 · HSK 5: 中国人什么时候开始吃辣 (When China learned to love chillies)
A dialogue, a reading, word cards with audio and a drill that uses it, in Learn Chinese with Bao. The first lessons of every level are free.
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