"Ròu chuàn" literally means "meat skewer" — it refers to pieces of meat (often lamb, beef, chicken, or pork) threaded onto a small wooden or metal stick and grilled over charcoal. The character 肉 (ròu) means "meat" or "flesh," while 串 (chuàn) means "skewer" or "string of items threaded together." Together, they form a compound noun describing both the physical object and the popular street food.

This dish is especially common in northern China and Xinjiang, where it’s often seasoned with cumin, chili, and salt. It’s typically sold by roadside vendors, served hot off the grill, and eaten as a snack or light meal. While "ròu chuàn" specifically denotes skewered meat, the term can sometimes be used more broadly to include skewers with vegetables or seafood — though those are usually specified (e.g., 羊肉串 for lamb skewers, or 蔬菜串 for vegetable skewers).