红枣
hóngzǎo
In Chinese, the word for dates is 红枣 (hóngzǎo).
In Chinese, 红枣 specifically refers to the dried red dates (jujubes) commonly used in cooking and herbal medicine.
What does it mean word for word?
The term literally translates to "red date". It is composed of 红 (hóng), meaning "red" and 枣 (zǎo), meaning "date" or "jujube".
How do you pronounce it?
hóngzǎo
Did you know?
- The term 'red dates' is often used in the idiom 早生贵子 (zǎoshēng guìzǐ), where 'red dates' are the visual metaphor for the 'early' (zǎo) part of the wish.
- Chinese jujubes (红枣) are biologically distinct from the dates found in the West, as they grow on a deciduous tree rather than a palm tree.
- While 'red dates' refers to jujubes, the fruit often called a 'date' in English, such as the Middle Eastern date, is called 椰枣 (yēzǎo) in Chinese.
Examples in context
- 这碗红枣汤很好喝。Zhè wǎn hóngzǎo tāng hěn hǎohē.This red date soup is very delicious.
- 我想买一些红枣。Wǒ xiǎng mǎi yīxiē hóngzǎo.I want to buy some red dates.
- 红枣很甜。Hóngzǎo hěn tián.The red dates are very sweet.
Example conversation
Junjie and Yuting are shopping at a grocery store.
- 俊杰 Junjie雨婷，你看这些红枣新鲜吗？Yǔtíng, nǐ kàn zhèxiē hóngzǎo xīnxiān ma?Yuting, do these red dates look fresh to you?
- 雨婷 Yuting看起来很不错，我们买一点吧。Kàn qǐlái bùcuò, wǒmen mǎi yīdiǎn ba.They look good, let's buy some.
- 俊杰 Junjie好，我把红枣放进篮子里。Hǎo, wǒ bǎ hóngzǎo fàng jìn lánzi lǐ.Okay, I will put the red dates in the basket.
- 雨婷 Yuting谢谢你，俊杰。Xièxiè nǐ, Jùnjié.Thank you, Junjie.
