刺果番荔枝
cìguǒfānlìzhī
The English word soursop is translated into Chinese as 刺果番荔枝 (cìguǒfānlìzhī). Wiktionary also lists 羅李亮果 / 罗李亮果 (luōlǐliàngguǒ).
Meaning: fruit (noun)
Ways to say it
| Chinese | Romanization (Wiktionary) |
|---|---|
| 刺果番荔枝 | cìguǒfānlìzhī |
| 羅李亮果 / 罗李亮果 | luōlǐliàngguǒ |
What does it mean word for word?
The name 刺果番荔枝 can be broken down into 刺 (thorn or spine), 果 (fruit) and 番荔枝 (custard apple).
Which one should you use?
刺果番荔枝 is the standard name for the fruit, while 羅李亮果 or 罗李亮果 is an alternative name.
How do you pronounce it?
cìguǒfānlìzhī
Did you know?
- The term 番 in 番荔枝 was once used to classify people and objects from outside the Chinese empire as 'foreigners' or 'barbarians'.
- While the word 刺 means 'thorn' or 'spine', the soursop's skin is actually soft to the touch and cannot pierce the skin.
- The alternative name 罗李亮果 functions as a phonetic transliteration of a foreign sound, rather than a descriptive Chinese name.
Examples in context
- 這種刺果番荔枝很好吃。zhè zhǒng cì guǒ fān lì zhī hěn hǎo chī.This kind of soursop is delicious.
Example conversation
Zhiqiang and Zihan are at a fruit market.
- 志强 Zhiqiang梓涵，你看這個刺果番荔枝很新鮮。Zǐ hán, nǐ kàn zhè ge cì guǒ fān lì zhī hěn xīn xiān.Zihan, look, this soursop is very fresh.
- 梓涵 Zihan對，我也想試試看。Duì, wǒ yě xiǎng shì shì kàn.Yes, I want to try it too.
- 志强 Zhiqiang我們買一個刺果番荔枝回去分著吃吧。Wǒ men mǎi yī gè cì guǒ fān lì zhī huí qù fēn zhe chī ba.Let's buy one soursop to share at home.
- 梓涵 Zihan好主意，志強。Hǎo zhǔ yì, Zhì qiáng.Good idea, Zhiqiang.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “soursop” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
