мәмә
məməDungan
The English word bread is translated into Mandarin using several different forms. If unsure, use мәмә (məmə). Wiktionary also lists 麵包 / 面包 (mī-pau) and 麭 /𮮆 (pháng).
Meaning: baked dough made from cereals (noun)
Ways to say it
| Mandarin | Romanization (Wiktionary) | Note |
|---|---|---|
| мәмә | məmə | Dungan |
| 麵包 / 面包 | mī-pau | Hokkien |
| 麭 /𮮆 | pháng | Hokkien |
This term refers to baked dough made from cereals.
Which one should you use?
The form мәмә is used in Dungan, while the forms 麵包 / 面包 and 麭 /𮮆 are specific to Hokkien.
Is it said differently in some regions?
мәмә is the form used in Dungan. The forms 麵包 / 面包 and 麭 /𮮆 are used in Hokkien.
How do you pronounce it?
məmə
Did you know?
- The term 麭 has a surprising global journey, starting from the Latin panem, traveling through Portuguese as pão, into Japanese as パン, and finally arriving in Hokkien.
- The Dungan language uses the form мәмә and is written using the Cyrillic alphabet, reflecting the influence of the Soviet Union on this Mandarin-based language.
- In many Chinese contexts, 麵包 refers specifically to Western-style loaves or buns rather than traditional steamed buns, which are called 饅頭.
Examples in context
- 我想买一个面包。I would like to buy a bread.
- 请给我一块麵包。Please give me a piece of bread.
- 我只想吃一片面包。I just want to eat a slice of bread.
- 这是一块很好吃的面包。This is a delicious piece of bread.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “bread” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 麭, CC BY-SA 4.0.
