甜瓜
tiánguā
The English word melon is translated into Chinese as 甜瓜 (tiánguā). Wiktionary also lists 瓜 (guā).
Meaning: fruit (noun)
Ways to say it
| Chinese | Romanization (Wiktionary) |
|---|---|
| 甜瓜 | tiánguā |
| 瓜 | guā |
In Chinese, the term for melon can refer specifically to the sweet fruit or more broadly to plants in the gourd family. For example, the term 瓜子 refers to sunflower seeds, which are a popular snack in China.
What does it mean word for word?
The word 甜瓜 is composed of 甜 (sweet) and 瓜 (melon).
Which one should you use?
甜瓜 specifically refers to the sweet fruit, whereas 瓜 is a more general term that can refer to any melon or gourd-family plant.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Hokkien, the term 瓜 is used for 'melon'.
How do you pronounce it?
tiánguā
Did you know?
- In modern Chinese internet slang, the phrase 吃瓜 (eating melon) means to be a bystander who enjoys watching celebrity gossip or drama unfold.
- The term 瓜分 uses the word for 'melon' to describe the act of dividing and seizing territory or spoils among several parties.
- The character 瓜 is a pictogram that originally depicted a melon hanging from a vine.
Examples in context
- 把瓜切成六等分。Cut the melon into six equal pieces.This sentence is useful for seeing how to use 瓜 when cutting the fruit.Tatoeba #389419 by fucongcong, translation #49847 by CK
- 他们一边嗑瓜子，一边打牌。They eat melon seeds while they play cards.This sentence shows how 瓜 is used in the term for sunflower seeds.Tatoeba #380558 by sysko, translation #7772958 by sharris123
- 一直以來爺爺曾經說過的事，像蒼蠅繞著瓜飛的聲音，在我的腦海裡嗡嗡地響著。All that time the things granddad had said, like the sound of flies flying round a melon, buzzed in my head.This sentence uses 瓜 in a descriptive context.Tatoeba #891595 by Martha, translation #329255 by fcbond
- 在这家餐厅，西瓜特别新鲜美味。The watermelon is especially fresh and delicious at this restaurant.
Example conversation
Two friends are sitting in a park on a hot summer day.
- 俊杰 Junjie天氣太熱了，我們吃點甜瓜吧。Tiānqì tài rè le, wǒmen chī diǎn tiánguā ba.It is too hot, let's eat some melon.
- 梓涵 Zihan好啊，這個甜瓜看起來很甜。Hǎo a, zhège tiánguā kàn qǐlái hěn tián.Okay, this melon looks very sweet.
- 俊杰 Junjie我剛從超市買回來。Wǒ gāng cóng chāoshì mǎi huílái.I just bought it from the supermarket.
- 梓涵 Zihan那快切開來分享吧。Nà kuài qiē kāi lái fēnxiǎng ba.Then let's cut it open and share.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “melon” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 瓜, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
