泡泡糖
pàopàotáng
In Chinese, bubble gum is said as 泡泡糖 (pàopàotáng).
泡泡糖 refers specifically to the sweetened gum designed to be chewed and blown into bubbles. While it is the precise term for bubble gum, you can also use the more general term 口香糖 to refer to all types of chewing gum.
What does it mean word for word?
The term 泡泡糖 is composed of 泡泡 (pàopao), meaning 'bubbles' and 糖 (táng), meaning 'candy' or 'sugar'.
Which one should you use?
泡泡糖 is the specific term for bubble gum, whereas 口香糖 is the general term used for all types of chewing gum.
How do you pronounce it?
pàopàotáng
Did you know?
- In Chinese pop culture, the act of blowing a bubble with 泡泡糖 is often used as a visual shorthand in films to portray a character as rebellious or Westernized.
- The word for 'gum' in the general term 口香糖 literally translates to 'mouth fragrance candy'.
- Because 泡泡 (pàopao) sounds 'cute', using the word 泡泡糖 in a highly formal business meeting might sound accidentally childish to a native speaker.
Examples in context
- 你有泡泡糖吗？Do you have bubble gum?
- 我想买一包泡泡糖。I want to buy a pack of bubble gum.
- 我想买一盒泡泡糖。Wǒ xiǎng mǎi yī hé pàopàotáng.I want to buy a box of bubble gum.
- 这种泡泡糖是什么味道的？Zhè zhǒng pàopàotáng shì shénme wèidào de?What flavor is this bubble gum?
- 这块泡泡糖太甜了。Zhè kuài pàopàotáng tài tián le.This piece of bubble gum is too sweet.
Example conversation
At a convenience store, Zhiqiang asks Xiaowen for a snack.
- 志强 Zhiqiang晓雯，你喜欢吃泡泡糖吗？Xiǎowén, nǐ xǐhuān chī pàopàotáng ma?Xiaowen, do you like eating bubble gum?
- 晓雯 Xiaowen我很喜欢，你有吗？Wǒ hěn xǐhuān, nǐ yǒu ma?I like it very much, do you have any?
- 志强 Zhiqiang我这里有一块。Wǒ zhèlǐ yǒu yī kuài.I have one piece here.
- 晓雯 Xiaowen谢谢你，志强。Xièxiè nǐ, Zhìqiáng.Thank you, Zhiqiang.
