玉米澱粉 / 玉米淀粉
yùmǐ diànfěn
The English phrase "cornstarch" is translated into Chinese as 玉米澱粉 / 玉米淀粉 (yùmǐ diànfěn). Wiktionary also lists 玉米粉 (yùmifěn) and 太白粉 (tàibáifěn).
Meaning: very fine starch powder (noun)
Ways to say it
| Chinese | Romanization (Wiktionary) |
|---|---|
| 玉米澱粉 / 玉米淀粉 | yùmǐ diànfěn |
| 玉米粉 | yùmifěn |
| 太白粉 | tàibáifěn |
The term refers to the very fine starch powder.
What does it mean word for word?
The term 玉米澱粉 is a literal combination of 玉米 (corn) and 澱粉 (starch).
Which one should you use?
While 玉米澱粉 specifically refers to the starch, 玉米粉 can refer more broadly to corn flour or corn powder.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Cantonese, cornstarch is commonly referred to as 粟粉.
How do you pronounce it?
yùmǐ diànfěn
Did you know?
- In many Southern Chinese regions, if you ask for cornstarch to thicken a sauce, a cook might unexpectedly suggest using 生粉, a term that literally means 'raw powder'.
- In Chinese cooking, cornstarch is the essential ingredient for 'velveting', a technique where meat is coated in starch and oil to keep it tender during high-heat frying.
- While 玉米 is the standard word for corn, the character 粟 used in the Cantonese 粟粉 is an older term for millet or small grains.
Example sentences for Chinese are not verified yet.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “cornstarch” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
