<ul>
<li><p>&quot;小炒牛肉&quot;是將<strong>牛肉絲</strong>和配料等食材(用<strong>大火</strong>)不停地在鍋內翻動的一種<strong>快速完成</strong>的烹調。</p>
</li>
<li><p>&quot;炒牛肉&quot;。是將<strong>牛肉片</strong>和配料等食材(一般用<strong>文火</strong>)在鍋內翻炒,烹調時間較小炒長。</p>
</li>
<li><p>大锅菜又名熬菜，在北方地区较流行。食材多样，营养丰富，汤汁浓郁。<strong>此菜其名称的由来，首先是它有很多种菜的风味，其次就是说在早年大家是在一起吃饭一起干活，所以就叫做了大锅菜。</strong></p>
</li>
</ul>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2022-05-19T12:16:34.550Z
2022-05-19T12:47:01.047Z
2022-05-19T12:47:01.047Z
r13
<p>@r13 is correct. 小 in this context means quicker and less intricate, i.e., 简略.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2022-05-21T20:02:17.600Z
2022-05-21T20:02:17.600Z
AirCanada
<p>To understand the meaning of 小炒, you need some more background information.<br />
Chinese factories or companies normally employ chefs to cook for employees, and chefs need to cook with super big pot or stew. This kind of dish is called 大锅菜, literally it means big pot dish.
Compared with 大锅菜, there are also dished cooked with small pot and more work. This kind of dishes are called 小炒, literally it means small stir-fry.
So slowly, 小炒 is used to describe dishes that need special care and more work. Compared with 炒牛肉, 小炒牛肉 needs more care and work.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2022-05-20T17:16:46.447Z
This explains 小炒 as in 特色小炒 but I doubt it's the same 小炒 as in  小炒肉.
user3528438
CC BY-SA 4.0
2022-05-19T03:19:01.167Z
2022-05-19T03:19:01.167Z
Henryfrombeijing
<p>I am not sure why the character &quot;小&quot; (small) is used here. Is there any difference between &quot;小炒牛肉&quot; and &quot;炒牛肉&quot;?</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2022-05-20T17:22:15.790Z
This is quite a specific name of a type of stir fried meat (usually pork) with peppers, commonly found in Hu'nan. 小 here has no specific meaning. It's just the way locals have been calling it.
user3528438
<meaning-in-context><adjectives>
What does "小" mean in "小炒牛肉"?
# What does "小" mean in "小炒牛肉"?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2022-05-19)

I am not sure why the character "小" (small) is used here. Is there any difference between "小炒牛肉" and "炒牛肉"?

**Tags:** meaning-in-context, adjectives

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: This is quite a specific name of a type of stir fried meat (usually pork) with peppers, commonly found in Hu'nan. 小 here has no specific meaning. It's just the way locals have been calling it.  

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## 3 answers

### Answer by username_4 on 2022-05-19. Score: 17 | Accepted answer

To understand the meaning of 小炒, you need some more background information.  
Chinese factories or companies normally employ chefs to cook for employees, and chefs need to cook with super big pot or stew. This kind of dish is called 大锅菜, literally it means big pot dish.
Compared with 大锅菜, there are also dished cooked with small pot and more work. This kind of dishes are called 小炒, literally it means small stir-fry.
So slowly, 小炒 is used to describe dishes that need special care and more work. Compared with 炒牛肉, 小炒牛肉 needs more care and work.

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: This explains 小炒 as in 特色小炒 but I doubt it's the same 小炒 as in  小炒肉.  

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### Answer by username_2 on 2022-05-19. Score: 2

* "小炒牛肉"是將**牛肉絲**和配料等食材(用**大火**)不停地在鍋內翻動的一種**快速完成**的烹調。
* "炒牛肉"。是將**牛肉片**和配料等食材(一般用**文火**)在鍋內翻炒,烹調時間較小炒長。
* 大锅菜又名熬菜，在北方地区较流行。食材多样，营养丰富，汤汁浓郁。**此菜其名称的由来，首先是它有很多种菜的风味，其次就是说在早年大家是在一起吃饭一起干活，所以就叫做了大锅菜。**


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### Answer by username_3 on 2022-05-21. Score: 1

@username_2 is correct. 小 in this context means quicker and less intricate, i.e., 简略.


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