油条 yóutiáo youtiao (deep-fried breadstick)
youtiao (deep-fried breadstick); slick and sly person
How to remember 油条: 油 oil + 条 strip = youtiao (deep-fried breadstick).
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How it is used
- Youtiao, the deep-fried dough stick eaten at breakfast - 豆浆油条 (dòujiāng yóutiáo) soy milk and fried dough, a classic pairing.
- Slang sense: 老油条 (lǎo yóutiáo) a slick, worldly-wise operator who dodges responsibility.
- Measure word 根 (gēn) for the stick shape.
- Named literally 'oil strip' from being fried.