冰棍
bīnggùn
The English word popsicle is 冰棍 (bīnggùn) in Chinese. Wiktionary also lists 冰棍兒 / 冰棍儿 (bīnggùnr) and 冰棒 (bīngbàng).
Meaning: frozen juice &c. on a stick (noun)
Ways to say it
| Chinese | Romanization (Wiktionary) |
|---|---|
| 冰棍 | bīnggùn |
| 冰棍兒 / 冰棍儿 | bīnggùnr |
| 冰棒 | bīngbàng |
The term refers to frozen juice &c. on a stick.
What does it mean word for word?
The word 冰棍 is composed of 冰 (ice) and 棍 (stick), literally meaning ice stick.
Which one should you use?
While both 冰棍 and 冰棒 refer to frozen treats on a stick, 冰棍 often implies a more traditional, harder ice-based popsicle, whereas 冰棒 can be a broader term for various frozen ice pops.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In some regions, the term 冰棒儿 is also used to refer to popsicles.
How do you pronounce it?
bīnggùn
Did you know?
- In some Chinese contexts, the concept of 'cooling down' with an 冰棍 is linked to the traditional medicine concept of 'internal heat' 上火, where cold foods are used to balance the body's temperature.
- The character 棍 in 冰棍 refers to a stick or club, which is the same character used in the term for a 'staff' used in traditional Chinese martial arts.
- In many parts of China, you are more likely to hear the term 雪糕 (xuě gāo), which literally means 'snow cake', to refer to ice cream bars.
Examples in context
- 冰棍在炎热的夏天非常受欢迎。Popsicles are very popular during hot summers.
- 夏天来了，我们一起去买冰棒吧！Summer is here, let's go buy some popsicles together!
- 小贩在街头叫卖着冰棒儿。Street vendors are selling popsicles.
- 我买了一根冰棍。Wǒ mǎile yī gēn bīnggùn.I bought a popsicle.
- 这个冰棍太甜了。Zhège bīnggùn tài tián le.This popsicle is too sweet.
Example conversation
Two friends are walking in a park on a hot afternoon.
- 晓雯 Xiaowen伟，天气太热了，我们要不要买个冰棍？Wěi, tiānqì tài rè le, wǒmen yào bù yào mǎi gè bīnggùn?Wei, it's too hot, should we buy a popsicle?
- 伟 Wei好啊，我也想吃冰棍。Hǎo a, wǒ yě xiǎng chī bīnggùn.Sure, I want to eat a popsicle too.
- 晓雯 Xiaowen那我们去那边的超市吧。Nà wǒmen qù nàbiān de chāoshì ba.Then let's go to that supermarket over there.
- 伟 Wei走吧，晓雯。Zǒu ba, Xiǎowén.Let's go, Xiaowen.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “popsicle” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
