蛤蜊
gélí
The English word 'clam' is translated into Chinese as 蛤蜊 (gélí). Wiktionary also lists 蚌 (bàng) and 蛤 (gé).
Meaning: mollusc (noun)
Ways to say it
| Chinese | Romanization (Wiktionary) |
|---|---|
| 蛤蜊 | gélí |
| 蚌 | bàng |
| 蛤 | gé |
| 蜆 / 蚬 | xiǎn |
| 文蛤 | wéngé |
蛤蜊 is the most common general term used in culinary contexts to refer to clams in a restaurant or market.
Which one should you use?
While 蛤蜊 is a general term for clams, 蚌 specifically refers to larger freshwater mussels or hard-shelled clams often found in rivers. The term 蜆 / 蚬 is often used specifically for smaller, edible saltwater clams, frequently used in soups or congee. 文蛤 refers to a specific type of high-quality edible clam, often the Venus clam, frequently found on seafood menus.
How do you pronounce it?
gélí
Did you know?
- The Chinese word for 'clam' 蛤 is linguistically related to the words for 'frog' in other Southeast Asian languages, such as the Thai word กบ.
- The character for 'clam' 蛤 contains the radical 虫, which usually means 'insect' or 'worm'. In ancient Chinese, this category included many invertebrates like shellfish and snails.
- In Chinese culture, the 蚌 (large clam or mussel) is famously linked to the myth of the 'pearl', where the clam's struggle with a grain of sand creates a precious gem.
Examples in context
- 老餐厅经常在菜单上供应新鲜的蛤蜊汤。The old restaurant often serves fresh clam soup on their menu.
- 今天晚上我们去吃海鲜，点一份炒蚌吧。Let's go have seafood tonight and order a plate of stir-fried clams.
- 碗里有新鲜的蛤蜊。Wǎn lǐ yǒu xīnxiān de gélí.There are fresh clams in the bowl.
- 这种蛤蜊味道很鲜美。Zhè zhǒng gélí wèidào hěn xiānměi.This kind of clam tastes delicious.
Example conversation
Wei and Yuting are ordering food at a seafood restaurant.
- 伟 Wei雨婷，你想点什么菜？Yǔtíng, nǐ xiǎng diǎn shénme cài?Yuting, what dish do you want to order?
- 雨婷 Yuting我想尝试一下蛤蜊。Wǒ xiǎng chángshì yīxià gélí.I want to try the clams.
- 伟 Wei好的，那我们点一份蛤蜊。Hǎo de, nà wǒmen diǎn yī fèn gélí.Okay, then we will order a portion of clams.
- 雨婷 Yuting太好了，谢谢伟。Tài hǎo le, xièxie Wěi.Great, thanks Wei.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “clam” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 蛤, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
