| 刀锯鼎镬 | dāo jù dǐng huò | knife, saw and cauldron; ancient instruments of torture; fig. torture | |
| 斧钺汤镬 | fǔ yuè tāng huò | battle-ax and boiling cauldron (idiom); facing torture and execution |
| 1 | Steam the glutinous rice in a wok or steamer. | |
| 2 | Return the ribs to wok, add seasonings, bring to boil over high heat. | |
| 3 | Put a steam rack in wok and the chicken on top. | |
| 4 | Fry beef tenderloin in wok over medium heat until well done. | |
| 5 | Heat wok. Fry eggplants over low heat until both sides are golden. |