焼包
The English phrase "bao" (Chinese steamed stuffed bun) can be said in Japanese as 焼包. Wiktionary also lists シャオパオ and バインバオ.
Meaning: Chinese steamed stuffed bun (noun)
Ways to say it
| Japanese | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| 焼包 | ||
| シャオパオ | ||
| バインバオ | ||
| 中華まん | chūkaman | [t͡ɕɨːka̠mã̠ɴ] (narrow) |
Which one should you use?
While 焼包 refers specifically to the Chinese dish, 中華まん (chūkaman) is the more common and standard Japanese term used in daily life to refer to steamed stuffed buns.
Did you know?
- In Japanese, the word まんじゅう is sometimes used metaphorically to describe someone with a round, plump face.
- The term 饅頭 (manjū) originally referred to a medicinal steamed bun used in Buddhist rituals, rather than the sweet bean paste buns most people eat today.
- In Japanese convenience stores, 中華まん are often sold in steaming baskets called 'mushiki' and are a quintessential winter comfort food, similar to how English speakers associate hot cocoa with cold weather.
Examples in context
- パオっていうのが、最近大好きなんだ！I've been loving this thing called "pao" lately!
Example conversation
Yui and Yota are deciding what to eat for a snack.
- 結衣 Yui陽太くん、焼包はどうですか？Yota-kun, yaki bao wa dou desu ka?Yota, how about a bao?
- 陽太 Yotaいいですね。買いに行きましょう。ii desu ne. kai ni ikimashou.That sounds good. Let's go buy some.
- 結衣 Yui私は肉の焼包がいいです。watashi wa niku no yaki bao ga ii desu.I want a meat bao.
- 陽太 Yota僕も同じものをにします。boku mo onaji mono ni shimasu.I will have the same one.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “bao” translations and entries 中華まん, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
