How to Say "Cinnamon" in Chinese

肉桂

ròuguì

The English word cinnamon is 肉桂 (ròuguì) in Chinese.

肉桂 refers to the spice cinnamon. If you are referring specifically to the pastry known as a cinnamon roll, use the term 肉桂卷.

Meaning: spice (noun)

Which one should you use?

桂皮 is a more formal way to refer to cinnamon. 肉桂卷 is used specifically for the cinnamon roll pastry.

ròuguì

Historically, the word 'cinnamon' in Chinese included the word for 'meat' to distinguish it from the 'osmanthus' tree, which also shares part of the name.
Unlike Western cinnamon rolls, traditional Chinese desserts rarely use 肉桂 as a primary flavor, as the spice is more common in savory braised dishes.
In Traditional Chinese Medicine, 肉桂 is considered a 'hot' ingredient and is often used to warm the body and improve circulation.

湯姆喜歡喝加肉桂的茶。
Tom likes tea with cinnamon.
This sentence shows how to use 肉桂 to describe adding cinnamon to tea.
Tatoeba #13917621 by LeviHighway, translation #3825728 by CK
大學時期，買零食很便宜。我常常會吃個咖哩牛肉包子或一個大肉桂捲，再喝杯茶。
During my university days, it was cheap then to buy a snack. I would munch on a curried beef bun or a big cinnamon roll and drink a cup of tea.
This sentence uses 肉桂 in the context of a cinnamon roll pastry.
Tatoeba #13549629 by LeviHighway, translation #10630712 by nonong
请问这款茶里面含有桂皮吗?
Excuse me, does this tea contain cinnamon?
這款咖啡有肉桂的味道。
Zhè kuǎn kāfēi yǒu ròuguì de wèidào.
This coffee has a cinnamon flavor.

A cafe where two friends are ordering drinks.

雨婷 Yuting

志强，你想喝什麼？
Zhìqiáng, nǐ xiǎng hē shénme?
Zhiqiang, what would you like to drink?
志强 Zhiqiang

我想喝加了肉桂的熱奶茶。
Wǒ xiǎng hē jiāle ròuguì de rè nǎichá.
I want to drink hot milk tea with cinnamon.
雨婷 Yuting

好的，那我點兩杯。
Hǎo de, nà wǒ diǎn liǎng bēi.
Okay, then I will order two cups.
志强 Zhiqiang

謝謝妳，雨婷。
Xièxiè nǐ, Yǔtíng.
Thank you, Yuting.

Sources

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