Chinese word

勺子

Pronunciation

Pinyinsháo zi

Meaning

  • nounspoon

Example

桌子上没有勺子。zhuō zi shàng méi yǒu sháo zi

There is no spoon on the table.

Illustration for 勺子 (spoon)

More examples

他在碗里找到了勺子。tā zài wǎn lǐ zhǎo dào le sháo zi

He found the spoon in the bowl.

Core concept

A small hollow scoop with a handle for lifting liquid or small pieces of food.

Common phrases

  • 一把勺子yì bǎ sháo zi

    a spoon

  • 餐桌上的勺子cān zhuō shàng de sháo zi

    spoon on the dining table

  • 碗里的勺子wǎn lǐ de sháo zi

    spoon in the bowl

Similar words

汤匙tāng chí: A deep spoon used for eating soup and other liquid dishes.
茶匙chá chí: A tiny spoon used to mix drinks or scoop a little food or liquid.

Definition in Chinese

用于舀取或盛放液体或细小固体食物的小型餐具，通常由柄与凹状舀面组成。yòng yú yáo qǔ huò shèng fàng yè tǐ huò xì xiǎo gù tǐ shí wù de xiǎo xíng cān jù tōng cháng yóu bǐng yǔ āo zhuàng yǎo miàn zǔ chéng

Word origin

勺 (sháo, "ladle") + 子 (zi, "noun-forming suffix") forms the everyday noun for a small handled scoop.

Usage tips

  • In everyday Chinese, a number before this noun normally uses a classifier, so 一把勺子 (yì bǎ sháozi, "one such utensil") is a useful pattern for counting.

Opposites

Word lists with this word