spice
- n. 香料
- n. 情趣
- v. 加香料
- v. 增添趣味
- Definition
- n. a substance used to flavor food
- n. excitement added to something
- v. to add spice to food
- v. to make something more interesting
- Example
- Add a little spice to the soup for extra flavor.
- 在汤里加一点香料，味道会更好。
Synonyms & Differences 近义词辨析
Compared meaning: to add flavor to food (verb).
比较义项：给食物调味／加香料（动词）。
- spice 本词
A general verb meaning to add any spice or seasoning to food; common in everyday cooking talk and also used figuratively ("spice up your life").
泛指给食物加入任何香料或调味料，是日常烹饪中常用的说法，也常用于比喻义（如“给生活增添情趣”）。
She spiced the curry with extra cumin and chili to give it more kick.
她在咖喱里多加了些孜然和辣椒，让味道更浓郁。
- zest
A narrower verb meaning specifically to grate citrus peel over a dish for flavor; used mainly in recipes, not for spices in general.
含义更窄，特指把柑橘皮屑刨碎撒在菜肴上调味，主要用于食谱语境，而不是泛指加香料。
Zest a lime over the fish right before you serve it.
上菜前在鱼上刨一些青柠皮屑调味。
Both mean to add flavor to food, but spice is broader, meaning to add any seasoning, common in cooking talk. Zest is narrower, meaning to grate citrus peel over a dish, used in recipes. Neither spice as a noun nor zest's enthusiasm is compared.
这两个词在“给食物调味”这一义项上意思相近，但spice泛指添加任何香料，用法更通用；zest则特指添加柑橘皮屑来提味，范围更窄，多见于食谱用语。这里不比较zest表示“热情，活力”的用法（如great zest and energy），也不比较spice作名词“香料”的用法。