茄子
qiézi
The English word eggplant is translated into Chinese as 茄子 (qiézi). Wiktionary also lists 酪酥 (làosū, luòsū).
Meaning: edible fruit (noun)
Ways to say it
| Chinese | Romanization (Wiktionary) |
|---|---|
| 茄子 | qiézi |
| 酪酥 | làosū, luòsū |
The term refers to the edible fruit of the eggplant plant.
What does it mean word for word?
The character 茄 refers specifically to the eggplant plant.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Cantonese-speaking regions, the term for eggplant is 茄子.
How do you pronounce it?
qiézi
Did you know?
- The eggplant is a key ingredient in 'fish-fragrant eggplant' 鱼香茄子, a dish that famously contains neither fish nor fragrance of fish, but instead mimics the seasonings used to cook fish.
- The character 子 in 茄子 originally meant 'seed' or 'son', but in this context, it functions primarily to give the word a natural rhythmic balance.
- The character 茄 shares a radical with words for other 'nightshade' plants, reflecting an ancient botanical classification that grouped the vegetable with wild, poisonous berries.
Examples in context
- 我喜歡茄子。I like eggplant.This sentence shows how to express a preference for 茄子.Tatoeba #6940065 by xjjAstrus, translation #7156338 by Kiwi
- 茄子，胡萝卜，西红柿。Eggplant, carrot, tomato.This sentence provides a list of vegetables including 茄子.Tatoeba #2200448 by johannjunge, translation #2206706 by FeuDRenais2
- 我爱茄子。I love eggplant.This sentence shows how to express a strong liking for 茄子.Tatoeba #6139124 by Sethlang, translation #1815929 by Chrikaru
Example conversation
Jiayi and Wei are deciding what to cook for dinner.
- 佳怡 Jiayi我们今晚做茄子吧。Wǒmen jīnwǎn zuò qiézi ba.Let's cook eggplant tonight.
- 伟 Wei好主意，家里还有吗？Hǎo zhǔyì, jiālǐ hái yǒu ma?Good idea, do we have any left at home?
- 佳怡 Jiayi没有了，我去超市买茄子。Méiyǒu le, wǒ qù chāoshì mǎi qiézi.No, I'll go to the supermarket to buy eggplant.
- 伟 Wei我也陪你去吧。Wǒ yě péi nǐ qù ba.I'll go with you.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “eggplant” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
