爆米花
bàomǐhuā
Popcorn in Chinese is 爆米花. If unsure, use 爆米花 (bàomǐhuā). Wiktionary also lists 玉米花 (yùmǐhuā).
Meaning: a snack food made from corn kernels popped by dry heating (noun)
Ways to say it
| Chinese | Romanization (Wiktionary) |
|---|---|
| 爆米花 | bàomǐhuā |
| 玉米花 | yùmǐhuā |
The term refers to the snack food made from corn kernels that have been heated until they pop.
What does it mean word for word?
The word 爆米花 is composed of 爆 (to pop or explode), 米 (grain or rice) and 花 (flower), literally meaning 'popped grain flower'.
Which one should you use?
Both terms refer to the snack, but 爆米花 is the more common term for the specific snack food, whereas 玉米花 is a more literal description of 'corn flower'.
How do you pronounce it?
bàomǐhuā
Did you know?
- In Chinese cinema, the sight of 爆米花 is often used as a visual shorthand for the influence of American culture and the 'Hollywood style' of movie-going.
- Chinese popcorn is frequently flavored with savory ingredients like seaweed or salted egg yolk, moving beyond the 'butter and salt' standard of the English-speaking world.
- The character 爆 also appears in words for 'explosion' and 'bomb', highlighting the violent nature of the kernel bursting.
Examples in context
- 湯姆要爆米花。Tom wants popcorn.This sentence shows how to express a desire for the snack using 爆米花.Tatoeba #6947202 by xjjAstrus, translation #4502826 by CK
- 爆米花是我最喜欢的零食。Popcorn is my favorite snack.This sentence describes the snack as a favorite using 爆米花.Tatoeba #5993948 by verdastelo9604, translation #3820754 by CK
- “聞起來像爆米花。”“你說的對！”"It smells like popcorn." "You're right!"This sentence illustrates how to describe a scent using 爆米花.Tatoeba #6947205 by xjjAstrus, translation #6956723 by znc
- 2 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Wei and Jiayi are at the cinema.
- 伟 Wei佳怡，妳想吃爆米花嗎？Jiāyí, nǐ xiǎng chī bàomǐhuā ma?Jiayi, do you want to eat popcorn?
- 佳怡 Jiayi我想吃，但我想要鹹的。Wǒ xiǎng chī, dàn wǒ xiǎng yào xián de.I do, but I want the salty kind.
- 伟 Wei沒問題，我去買。Méi wèntí, wǒ qù mǎi.No problem, I will go buy some.
- 佳怡 Jiayi謝謝你，偉。Xièxiè nǐ, Wěi.Thank you, Wei.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “popcorn” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
