包子
bāozi
The English phrase "bao" refers to the Chinese steamed stuffed bun, known in Chinese as 包子 (bāozi).
包子 refers to a specific type of steamed bun that contains a filling.
Meaning: Chinese steamed stuffed bun (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The character 包 means to wrap or envelop, which refers to the dough wrapping the filling, while the suffix 子 is a common noun-forming suffix in Mandarin that does not carry a separate meaning in this context.
Which one should you use?
Unlike 馒头 (mántou), which refers to plain steamed buns without any stuffing, 包子 must contain a filling. You can also create a specific type of bun known as a soup dumpling by adding 小笼 (xiǎolóng) before the word to make 小笼包.
How do you pronounce it?
bāozi
Did you know?
- While 'bao' refers to the bun, the word 'bao' can also mean 'to protect' or 'to treasure' when spoken with a different tone, such as in 'baobao' meaning 'baby'.
- When eating 小笼包, it is customary to place the bun on a spoon and poke a small hole in the dough to let the steam escape before eating.
- In Chinese culture, the act of 'wrapping' the 包子 is often a communal family activity during festivals, symbolizing unity and togetherness.
Examples in context
- 我想吃包子。Wǒ xiǎng chī bāozi.I want to eat steamed stuffed buns.
- 这些包子很便宜。Zhèxiē bāozi hěn piányi.These steamed stuffed buns are very cheap.
- 他在厨房做包子。Tā zài chúfáng zuò bāozi.He is making steamed stuffed buns in the kitchen.
Example conversation
A couple is deciding what to eat for breakfast.
- 伟 Wei早饭你想吃什么？Zǎofàn nǐ xiǎng chī shénme?What do you want to eat for breakfast?
- 晓雯 Xiaowen我们去买包子吧。Wǒmen qù mǎi bāozi ba.Let's go buy some steamed stuffed buns.
- 伟 Wei晓雯，我也想吃包子。Xiǎowén, wǒ yě xiǎng chī bāozi.Xiaowen, I want to eat steamed stuffed buns too.
- 晓雯 Xiaowen好，那我们走吧。Hǎo, nà wǒmen zǒu ba.Okay, let's go then.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “bao” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
