Chinese word

月饼

Pronunciation

Pinyinyuè bǐng

Meaning

  • nounmooncake

Example

中秋节我们吃月饼。zhōng qiū jié wǒ men chī yuè bǐng

We eat mooncakes during the Mid-Autumn Festival.

Illustration for 月饼 (mooncake)

More examples

老板常常在中秋节给客户送月饼。láo bǎn cháng cháng zài zhōng qiū jié gěi kè hù sòng yuè bǐng

The boss often gives mooncakes to clients during the Mid-Autumn Festival.

Core concept

A shared festival pastry whose round shape and rich filling suggest reunion under the full moon.

Common phrases

  • 吃月饼chī yuè bǐng

    eat mooncakes

  • 买月饼mǎi yuè bǐng

    buy mooncakes

  • 送月饼sòng yuè bǐng

    give mooncakes

Similar words

饼bǐng: A flour-based food shaped into a flat round form and cooked or baked.
点心diǎn xīn: A small snack or light dish eaten between meals or in the afternoon.
蛋糕dàn gāo: A soft, sweet food made with flour, eggs, and sugar and baked or steamed.
饼干bǐng gān: A thin, hard biscuit baked until dry and suitable for keeping.

Definition in Chinese

一种传统中式糕点，外形常为圆形，内含各种甜或咸的馅料，与中秋节的赏月与团圆习俗密切相关。yì zhǒng chuán tǒng zhōng shì gāo diǎn wài xíng cháng wèi yuán xíng nèi hán gè zhǒng tián huò xián de xiàn liào yǔ zhōng qiū jié de shǎng yuè yǔ tuán yuán xí sú mì qiè xiāng guān

Word origin

The compound 月饼 (yuèbǐng, "mooncake") joins 月 (yuè, "moon") with 饼 (bǐng, "pastry") to name the pastry traditionally eaten during Mid-Autumn celebrations.

Usage tips

  • English speakers may expect a light dessert from the word cake, but mooncakes are often dense and richly filled, so a small portion is common.

Related words

  • 月饼店yuè bǐng diànmooncake storenoun
  • 月饼礼盒yuè bǐng lǐ hémooncake gift boxnoun
  • 月饼馅yuè bǐng xiànmooncake fillingnoun

Word lists with this word