掛麵 / 挂面
guàmiàn
The English word 'noodle' can be translated into Chinese as 掛麵 / 挂面 (guàmiàn) or 麵條 / 面条.
Meaning: string or flat strip of pasta or other dough (noun)
Ways to say it
| Chinese | Romanization (Wiktionary) |
|---|---|
| 掛麵 / 挂面 | guàmiàn |
| 麵條 / 面条 | miàntiáo |
Both forms refer to a string or flat strip of pasta or other dough. Note that the component 面 (miàn) can also refer to flour or the concept of 'face' depending on the context.
What does it mean word for word?
The term 麵條 / 面条 is composed of miàn, meaning flour or noodles and tiáo, meaning strip or piece, which emphasizes the long, thin shape of the food.
Is it said differently in some regions?
The informal term 面儿 (miàn er) is often encountered in the Beijing dialect.
How do you pronounce it?
guàmiàn
Did you know?
- In many Chinese cultures, long noodles like 麵條 / 面条 symbolize longevity, so it is considered bad luck to cut them while cooking or eating.
- Chinese culture has a specific term for 'slurping' noodles that is generally acceptable and seen as a sign that the meal is delicious, unlike the etiquette in many Western cultures.
- The term 掛麵 / 挂面 literally translates to 'hanging noodles', referring to the traditional method of drying them by hanging them on racks.
Examples in context
- 他点了一碗牛肉面。He ordered a bowl of beef noodles.
- 我喜欢吃宽面条。I like eating wide noodles.
- 我刚才在街边吃了一碗炸酱面儿。I just had a bowl of zhá jiàng miàn (noodles with soybean paste) by the street.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “noodle” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
