Chinese word

包子

Pronunciation

Pinyinbāo zi

Meaning

  • nounsteamed bun

Example

我下午想吃包子。wǒ xià wǔ xiǎng chī bāo zi

I want to eat steamed buns this afternoon.

Illustration for 包子 (steamed bun)

More examples

街上有很多包子店。jiē shàng yǒu hěn duō bāo zi diàn

There are many steamed-bun shops on the street.

Core concept

Steam cooks a closed piece of dough around a hidden center, so the outside and inside form one portable food.

Common phrases

  • 卖包子mài bāo zi

    sell steamed buns

  • 包子店bāo zi diàn

    steamed-bun shop

  • 买包子mǎi bāo zi

    buy steamed buns

Similar words

馒头mán tou: A soft, round bun of fermented wheat dough with nothing inside.
饺子jiǎo zi: A bite-sized filled dumpling with a thin wrapper, cooked by boiling, steaming, or pan-frying.
面包miàn bāo: A general term for baked wheat bread commonly eaten for breakfast.
点心diǎn xīn: A small tea-time food, such as a light snack or sweet.

Definition in Chinese

把馅料包入面皮并蒸熟制成的食品，常见馅有肉、菜或甜料，与馒头的主要区别在于是否有馅。bǎ xiàn liào bāo rù miàn pí bìng zhēng shú zhì chéng de shí pǐn cháng jiàn xiàn yǒu ròu cài huò tián liào yǔ mán tou de zhǔ yào qū bié zài yú shì fǒu yǒu xiàn

Word origin

In 包子 (bāozi, "steamed bun"), 包 (bāo, "to wrap") supplies the main meaning and 子 (zi, "noun-forming suffix") turns the base into a noun for the finished food.

Usage tips

  • English speakers may connect bun with baked bread, but this word often names a savory food whose dough is cooked by steam.

Related words

  • 包子铺bāo zi pùsteamed-bun shopnoun

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