榛子
zhēnzi
The English phrase "hazelnut" is translated into Chinese as 榛子 (zhēnzi). Wiktionary also lists 榛果 (zhēnguǒ) and 榛仁 (zhēnrén).
Meaning: fruit (noun)
Ways to say it
| Chinese | Romanization (Wiktionary) |
|---|---|
| 榛子 | zhēnzi |
| 榛果 | zhēnguǒ |
| 榛仁 | zhēnrén |
| 榛實 / 榛实 | zhēnshí |
| 榛栗 | zhēnlì |
The term is used to refer to the hazelnut fruit, the plant or the nut in a general sense.
What does it mean word for word?
In the culinary term zhēnrén, zhēn means hazel and rén means kernel or nut meat.
Which one should you use?
zhēnzi is the most common way to refer to the hazelnut in general, often used for the plant or the whole nut. If you are referring specifically to the edible kernel or the nut meat, such as when reading an ingredient list, use zhēnrén.
How do you pronounce it?
zhēnzi
Did you know?
- The word 仁 in 榛仁 is used for the edible kernels of many seeds and nuts, but it also means 'benevolence' or 'humanity' in Confucian philosophy.
- In Chinese poetry, the hazel tree 榛树 is sometimes used as a symbol of the rugged, untamed wilderness of the mountains, rather than just a source of food.
- The character 榛 consists of the 'tree' radical and a phonetic component, but in traditional Chinese medicine, the hazelnut is viewed not just as a food but as a 'warm' ingredient used to treat specific ailments.
Examples in context
- 这种榛子很好吃。zhè zhǒng zhēn zi hěn hǎo chī.This kind of hazelnut is delicious.
- 他在林子里找榛子。tā zài lín zi lǐ zhǎo zhēn zi.He is looking for hazelnuts in the forest.
- 树上挂满了榛子。shù shàng guà mǎn le zhēn zi.The trees are full of hazelnuts.
Example conversation
Two people are walking through a forest.
- 志强 Zhiqiang晓雯，你看那边的榛子。xiǎo wén, nǐ kàn nà biān de zhēn zi.Xiaowen, look at the hazelnuts over there.
- 晓雯 Xiaowen志强，那些看起来很新鲜。zhì qiáng, nà xiē kàn qǐ lái hěn xīn xiān.Zhiqiang, those look very fresh.
- 志强 Zhiqiang我们要不要去采一些？wǒ men yào bù yào qù cǎi yī xiē?Should we go pick some?
- 晓雯 Xiaowen好啊，我们走吧。hǎo a, wǒ men zǒu ba.Sure, let's go.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “hazelnut” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
