hoisin sauce: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1specialist/culinary
Quick answer
What does “hoisin sauce” mean?
A thick, dark, reddish-brown Chinese condiment made from fermented soybeans, garlic, chili, and spices, with a sweet and salty flavour.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A thick, dark, reddish-brown Chinese condiment made from fermented soybeans, garlic, chili, and spices, with a sweet and salty flavour.
A versatile flavouring agent used in Chinese and Southeast Asian cuisines for glazing, stir-frying, dipping, and marinating, often described as having a complex umami-rich taste.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning or usage. Both use the anglicised Chinese term 'hoisin sauce'. Potential minor spelling variations (e.g., hyphenated 'hoisin-sauce') are equally rare in both regions.
Connotations
Conveys authenticity and specific culinary knowledge in both cultures. In the US, it may be more widely recognised due to broader availability of Asian ingredients.
Frequency
Low frequency in general discourse, but moderately common in culinary contexts, cookbooks, and food media in both regions. Slightly higher frequency in American English due to market penetration of brands like Kikkoman and Lee Kum Kee.
Grammar
How to Use “hoisin sauce” in a Sentence
use hoisin sauce as a [noun]glaze [noun] with hoisin saucemix hoisin sauce with [noun]serve [noun] with hoisin sauceVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “hoisin sauce” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The chef will hoisin-glaze the duck before roasting.
- I'm going to hoisin the ribs for the barbecue.
American English
- Let's hoisin-marinate the chicken thighs.
- She hoisined the tofu for extra flavour.
adjective
British English
- The hoisin-marinated wings were a hit.
- He prefers a hoisin-based dipping sauce.
American English
- We're having hoisin-glazed salmon tonight.
- Try the hoisin chicken lettuce wraps.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used in contexts of food import/export, restaurant supply, or culinary product marketing.
Academic
Appears in studies of food history, ethnography, or culinary arts.
Everyday
Used in cooking instructions, restaurant menus, and discussions about Asian cuisine.
Technical
Used in food science concerning fermentation, food labelling, and recipe formulation.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “hoisin sauce”
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “hoisin sauce”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “hoisin sauce”
- Misspelling as 'hoison', 'hoisen', or 'hiosin'.
- Confusing it with oyster sauce or sweet bean paste.
- Using it as a generic term for any Asian brown sauce.
- Pronouncing the 's' in 'hoisin' as a /z/.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Traditional hoisin sauce is often vegan as it is based on fermented soybeans, but some brands may include fish sauce, shrimp paste, or other animal-derived ingredients. Always check the label.
Hoisin is thicker, sweeter, and made from fermented soybeans. Oyster sauce is thinner, saltier, and derives its flavour from oyster extracts. They are not interchangeable in most recipes.
Yes, a rough substitute can be made by combining soy sauce, peanut butter or miso paste, honey or sugar, vinegar, and a touch of garlic and chilli. It will not be identical but can work in a pinch.
Store it in the refrigerator after opening. Due to its high sugar and salt content, it will keep for several months, though the flavour may slowly diminish over time.
A thick, dark, reddish-brown Chinese condiment made from fermented soybeans, garlic, chili, and spices, with a sweet and salty flavour.
Hoisin sauce is usually specialist/culinary in register.
Hoisin sauce: in British English it is pronounced /ˌhɔɪ.sɪn ˈsɔːs/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌhɔɪ.sɪn ˈsɑːs/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “None specific to the term.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
HOISIN: 'HOI' sounds like 'boy' who loves the 'SIN'fully delicious sauce on his Peking duck.
Conceptual Metaphor
SAUCE IS A SIGNATURE (e.g., 'the hoisin sauce is the signature of the dish').
Practice
Quiz
What is a primary characteristic of hoisin sauce?