米粉
mǐfěn
The English phrase "rice noodles" is translated into Chinese as 米粉 (mǐfěn).
The term 米粉 refers to thin noodles made from rice flour. It can be used to describe both the dry flour product and the prepared noodle dish itself.
Which one should you use?
While 米粉 specifically refers to thin, often vermicelli-like rice noodles, thicker rice noodles are often called 河粉.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Taiwan, the informal term 米苔目 is used to describe rice noodles.
How do you pronounce it?
mǐfěn
Did you know?
- In modern internet slang, 米粉 is used as a pun to describe a 'fan' of the technology company Xiaomi, because the word for 'fan' is 粉丝 and Xiaomi's name means 'little rice'.
- The word 粉 in 米粉 can also mean 'powder' or 'dust', which explains why it is used for both finely ground rice flour and the thin noodles made from it.
- While 米粉 typically refers to thin noodles, some regional variations are so thin they are compared to silk threads, reflecting a cultural preference for delicacy in southern Chinese cuisine.
Examples in context
- 新竹的貢丸和米粉非常有名，吸引不少遊客品嚐。Hsinchu's meatballs and rice noodles are very famous, attracting many tourists to taste them.This sentence shows how 米粉 is a famous food in Hsinchu that attracts tourists.Tatoeba #13537650 by LeviHighway, translation #13545821 by LeviHighway
- 干炒牛河Beef Ho Fun
- 过桥米线Crossing the Bridge Noodles
- 這碗米粉的味道很清淡。Zhè wǎn mǐfěn de wèidào hěn qīngdàn.The taste of this bowl of rice noodles is very light.
- 我晚餐想吃米粉。Wǒ wǎncān xiǎng chī mǐfěn.I want to eat rice noodles for dinner.
Example conversation
Two friends are deciding what to order for lunch.
- 佳怡 Jiayi伟，你想吃面还是米粉？Wěi, nǐ xiǎng chī miàn háishì mǐfěn?Wei, do you want to eat wheat noodles or rice noodles?
- 伟 Wei我想尝试一下米粉。Wǒ xiǎng chángshì yíxià mǐfěn.I want to try the rice noodles.
- 佳怡 Jiayi好，那我们点两份米粉。Hǎo, nà wǒmen diǎn liǎng fèn mǐfěn.Okay, then let's order two portions of rice noodles.
- 伟 Wei没问题，听起来很不错。Méi wèntí, tīng qǐlái hěn bùcuò.No problem, that sounds great.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 米粉, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
