油炸 (yóu zhá) literally means 'oil-fried' and functions primarily as an adjective describing food that has been cooked by submerging it in hot oil — what English speakers call 'deep-fried'. The first character 油 (yóu) means 'oil', and the second 炸 (zhá) is a verb meaning 'to deep-fry' or 'to fry in oil'. Together, they form a compound that modifies nouns — for example, 油炸食品 (yóu zhá shípǐn), meaning 'deep-fried food'. It’s commonly used in menus, cooking instructions, and health discussions.

This term emphasizes the cooking method rather than ingredients, so it applies to many foods — from tofu and spring rolls to chicken and fish. While 炸 alone can mean 'to fry', adding 油 makes the phrase more specific and formal, especially in written contexts like food labels or restaurant descriptions. It’s neutral in register but often carries a slight connotation of being less healthy due to high oil content.