麻糬
máshǔ
Mochi is translated into Chinese as 麻糬 (máshǔ). Wiktionary also lists 磨嘰 / 磨叽 (mòji).
Meaning: rice cake made from glutinous rice (noun)
Ways to say it
| Chinese | Romanization (Wiktionary) |
|---|---|
| 麻糬 | máshǔ |
| 磨嘰 / 磨叽 | mòji |
The term refers to the rice cake made from glutinous rice. In the context of Taiwanese Mandarin, 麻糬 (máshǔ) is the standard way to refer to this treat and is frequently seen in Taiwanese-style dessert shops.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Cantonese-speaking regions, the term 糯米糍 (no6 mai5 ci4) is used to express mochi.
How do you pronounce it?
máshǔ
Did you know?
- In some regions, the texture of 麻糬 is described using the word Q, a loanword from English used to describe a specifically bouncy or rubbery chewiness that standard Chinese adjectives cannot capture.
- While 'mochi' refers to the food, the similarly sounding Northern Chinese term 磨嘰 (mójī) is actually an insult or criticism used to describe someone who is dawdling or being indecisive.
- The Chinese word 麻糬 is not a direct translation from Japanese but was borrowed into Mandarin via Hokkien, the language traditionally spoken in Taiwan and Fujian.
Examples in context
- 今天的使命：奶茶跟麻糬。Today's mission: milk tea with mochi.This sentence is useful for showing how to use 麻糬 in a casual context.Tatoeba #417726 by GlossaMatik, translation #417724 by FeuDRenais
- 這款麻糬口感很軟。Zhè kuǎn máshǔ kǒugǎn hěn ruǎn.This mochi is very soft in texture.
- 我喜歡吃草莓麻糬。Wǒ xǐhuān chī cǎoméi máshǔ.I like eating strawberry mochi.
Example conversation
Two friends are choosing a dessert at a cafe.
- 雨婷 Yuting妳想吃什麼甜點？Nǐ xiǎng chī shénme tiándiǎn?What dessert do you want to eat?
- 俊杰 Junjie我想吃麻糬。Wǒ xiǎng chī máshǔ.I want to eat mochi.
- 雨婷 Yuting那我也點一份吧。Nà wǒ yě diǎn yī fèn ba.Then I will order one too.
- 俊杰 Junjie好啊，這家很有名。Hǎo a, zhè jiā hěn yǒumíng.Okay, this place is very famous.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “mochi” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 麻糬, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
