Ways to say it
| Chinese | Romanization (Wiktionary) |
|---|---|
| 杏 | xìng |
| 杏子 | xìngzi |
| 杏實 / 杏实 | xìngshí |
The terms for apricot refer to the fruit itself. You can also use related forms to describe the color apricot, such as 杏色 or 杏色的.
What does it mean word for word?
The term 杏实 literally combines 杏 (apricot) and 实 (fruit/seed/nut) to specify the edible part of the plant.
Which one should you use?
While 杏 refers to the apricot, 杏子 is the standard way to refer to the fruit in daily speech. The term 杏实 is used to specify the edible fruit of the plant. 杏儿 is an informal term used specifically in northern China.
Is it said differently in some regions?
The term 杏儿 is used in northern China.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
In the word 杏子, the suffix 子 is a common way to turn a single-syllable noun into a two-syllable noun to make spoken Chinese sound more natural. To create the adjective for the color apricot, the character 色 (color) is added to 杏 to form 杏色.
How do you pronounce it?
xìng
Did you know?
- The term 杏 is used in the phrase 杏林, meaning 'apricot grove', which is a poetic way to refer to the medical profession in Chinese.
- In traditional Chinese beauty standards, 杏眼 or 'apricot eyes' refers to a desired eye shape that is large and slightly rounded.
- The 'apricot grove' metaphor for doctors comes from a legendary physician who lived in such a grove and treated the poor for free.
Examples in context
- 我买了一些杏子。I bought some apricots.
- 今天我吃了个杏儿，很好吃！Today I ate an apricot, it was delicious!
- 杏桃果酱非常好吃，你应该试试看！Apricot jam is really tasty, you should give it a try!
- 这颗杏很甜。Zhè kē xìng hěn tián.This apricot is very sweet.
- 我想吃新鲜的杏。Wǒ xiǎng chī xīnxiān de xìng.I want to eat fresh apricots.
- 树上结满了杏。Shù shàng jié mǎn le xìng.The tree is full of apricots.
Example conversation
At a fruit market, Junjie is choosing fruit for晓雯.
- 俊杰 Junjie晓雯，你想吃杏吗？Xiǎowén, nǐ xiǎng chī xìng ma?Xiaowen, do you want to eat apricots?
- 晓雯 Xiaowen我想吃，它们新鲜吗？Wǒ xiǎng chī, tāmen xīnxiān ma?I do, are they fresh?
- 俊杰 Junjie你看，这些杏看起来很新鲜。Nǐ kàn, zhèxiē xìng kàn qǐlái hěn xīnxiān.Look, these apricots look very fresh.
- 晓雯 Xiaowen那我们就买一些吧。Nà wǒmen jiù mǎi yīxiē ba.Then let's buy some.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “apricot” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
