Make Desserts and Learn the Chinese Zodiac (Episode 2): Cow and Rooster Mini Donuts

This is Episode 2 of our new Yoyo Chinese video series, “Make Desserts and Learn Chinese”!

If you missed the first episode of the series, you can check it out here.

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Episode 2: Cow and Rooster Mini Donuts

You can watch Episode 2 of the series below, where we learn how to make mini donuts - 迷你甜甜圈 (mí nǐ tián tián quān), that resemble the cow or ox - 牛 (niú), and the rooster or chicken - 鸡 (jī)! 

You’ll also learn some interesting facts about these two zodiac animals in Chinese culture!



If you’re wondering what your Chinese zodiac is, you can find out by looking for it in the below infographic:

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The Cow/Ox - 牛 (niú) 

The word 牛 (niú) in Chinese doesn’t just mean “cow” - it can be used as an adjective to describe someone. It’s kind of slang, and pretty close to the word “awesome” in English. So if you hear someone say 你太牛了 (nǐ tài niú le), it’s like saying “You’re so awesome!” in English. 

Zodiac Years: If you were born in the years 1925, 1937, 1949, 1961, 1973, 1985, 1997 or 2009, your zodiac animal is the cow! 

Zodiac Traits: According to the Chinese zodiac, people that are born in the year of the cow are honest, diligent, persistent and frank, but they also tend to lack a sense of humor and can be a bit stubborn and distant as well.

Suitable Careers: Due to their studious, diligent nature, people born in the year of the ox make great doctors, lawyers, teachers, and do well as businessmen and businesswomen.

Compatibility: People born in the year of the cow are known to get along well with those born in the year of the rat, snake, and our next zodiac, the rooster! Their worst matches include the tiger, dragon, horse and sheep.

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The Rooster/Chicken - 鸡 (jī)

Zodiac Years: If you were born in 1933, 1945, 1957, 1969, 1981, 1993 or 2005, you were born in the year of the rooster.

Zodiac Traits: People born in the year of the rooster are thought to be bright, ambitious, outgoing, and independent, and tend to enjoy dressing up, go out to parties and enjoying gourmet food. Their weaknesses include being a bit impatient, narrow-minded, and preachy.

Suitable Careers: People with this zodiac are best suited for jobs that give them freedom, such as musicians, artists, politicians, tour guides and fashion designers.

Compatibility: Those born in this zodiac year are best matched with those born in the year of the ox and the snake. They often don’t get along with those born in the year of the rat, rabbit, horse, dog, or others born in the year of the rooster.

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Key Vocabulary in Episode 2

• 糖 (táng) - sugar
• 鸡蛋 (jī dàn) - egg
• 牛奶 (niú nǎi) - milk
• 面粉 (miàn fěn) - flour
• 泡打粉 (pào dǎ fěn) - baking powder
• 盐 (yán) - salt
• 砂糖 (shā táng) - granulated sugar
• 无盐黄油 (wú yán huánɡ yóu) - unsalted butter
• 低筋面粉 (dī jīn miàn fěn) - cake flour
• 面糊 (miàn hú) - batter
• 牛 (niú) - cow/ox
• 鸡 (jī) - rooster/chicken
• 迷你甜甜圈 (mí nǐ tián tián quān) - mini donuts

These mini donuts look so good - go out and try to make them!

Recipe Ingredients:

• Granulated sugar: 3 oz
• Egg: 1 whole egg
• Milk: 1.5 oz
• Cake flour: 3.75 oz
• Baking powder: ½ tsp
• Salt: a pinch of salt
• Unsalted butter: 1.5 oz
• Melted chocolate (for decoration): use as desired
• Candy (for decoration): use as desired

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Stay tuned for Episode 3 of the series, where we’ll learn how to tiger- and rabbit-themed macaroons! Yum!

你认识鸡年或者牛年出生的人吗？ (nǐ rèn shí jī nián huò zhě niú nián chū shēnɡ de rén ma) - Do you guys know anyone that was born in the year of the rooster or ox? 

Let us know in the comments below!

Want to learn more about the words 鸡 (jī) and 牛 (niú), and other animals? Check out this lesson from our Beginner Conversational Course, where we go into greater detail, and show you a really easy way to turn those words into “chicken (meat)” and “beef”.

Just starting out with our courses? Check out the first lesson of our Beginner course here. Level 1 of the course is totally free!