菠蘿 / 菠萝
bōluóMainland China
The English word "pineapple" translates to Mandarin as 菠蘿 / 菠萝 (bōluó). Wiktionary also lists 鳳梨 / 凤梨 (fènglí) and 黃梨 / 黄梨 (huánglí).
Meaning: fruit (noun)
Ways to say it
| Mandarin | Romanization (Wiktionary) | Note |
|---|---|---|
| 菠蘿 / 菠萝 | bōluó | Mainland China |
| 鳳梨 / 凤梨 | fènglí | Taiwan |
| 黃梨 / 黄梨 | huánglí | Malaysia, Singapore |
The word refers to the fruit known as pineapple.
What does it mean word for word?
The characters used to write 菠萝 can be translated literally as "treasure melon".
Which one should you use?
While all these terms refer to the same fruit, the choice between 菠蘿 / 菠萝 and 鳳梨 / 凤梨 depends on the regional dialect (Mainland China vs Taiwan).
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Mainland China, the standard term is 菠蘿 / 菠萝. In Taiwan, the term 鳳梨 / 凤梨 is used. In Malaysia and Singapore, the term 黃梨 / 黄梨 is commonly used.
How do you pronounce it?
bōluó
Did you know?
- The word 菠蘿 is a linguistic descendant of the Sanskrit word 'paramita' which refers to a Buddhist concept of perfection. This term originally entered the language as 菠蘿蜜 to describe the jackfruit.
- During the Lunar New Year in Taiwan, it is common to see whole pineapples placed near the entrance of shops or businesses to attract wealth.
- In Taiwan, the pineapple is linked to the phrase 旺來, which means 'bringing prosperity'. This phonetic similarity makes the fruit a symbol of good fortune rather than just a food item.
Examples in context
- 我想买一个菠萝。I want to buy a pineapple.
- 这道菠萝炒饭很好吃。This pineapple fried rice is delicious.
- 你喜欢凤梨吗？Do you like pineapple?
- 今天早上我吃了一个凤梨。I ate a pineapple this morning.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “pineapple” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 菠蘿, 鳳梨, CC BY-SA 4.0.
