糯米
nuò mǐ
Sticky rice in Chinese is 糯米 (nuò mǐ).
糯米 refers to a type of glutinous rice that becomes sticky when cooked. It is a primary ingredient used for making traditional Chinese desserts such as 粽子 (zòngzi, sticky rice dumplings wrapped in bamboo leaves) and 年糕 (niángāo, rice cakes). You may also encounter terms for dishes made from this rice, such as 糍饭团 (cí fàn tuán), which are sticky rice balls.
What does it mean word for word?
The term consists of 糯 (nuò), which refers to the glutinous or sticky quality and 米 (mǐ), which means rice.
Which one should you use?
糯米 specifically refers to glutinous rice. In contrast, 普通米 (pǔtōng mǐ) or 大米 (dà mǐ) refers to standard non-glutinous rice.
How do you pronounce it?
nuò mǐ
Did you know?
- Ancient Chinese builders used a mixture of 糯米 and slaked lime to create a biological mortar that is stronger than standard lime mortar, which helped the Great Wall resist earthquakes.
- In traditional Chinese medicine, 'nuò mǐ' is often described as having a 'warming' property that differs from the 'neutral' or 'cooling' nature of other grains.
- While 糯米 refers to the grain, the term 糯 is also used as an adjective to describe things that are soft and chewy, like certain types of candy or textures.
Examples in context
- 这种糯米很香。Zhè zhǒng nuòmǐ hěn xiāng.This kind of sticky rice is very fragrant.
- 我想吃糯米饭。Wǒ xiǎng chī nuòmǐ fàn.I want to eat sticky rice.
- 做甜点需要用糯米。Zuò tiándiǎn xūyào yòng nuòmǐ.Making desserts requires sticky rice.
Example conversation
A young man and woman are choosing ingredients at a grocery store.
- 俊杰 Junjie佳怡，我们要买糯米吗？Jiāyí, wǒmen yào mǎi nuòmǐ ma?Jiayi, do we need to buy sticky rice?
- 佳怡 Jiayi是的，我想做糯米糕。Shì de, wǒ xiǎng zuò nuòmǐ gāo.Yes, I want to make sticky rice cake.
- 俊杰 Junjie那我们拿这袋糯米吧。Nà wǒmen ná zhè dài nuòmǐ ba.Then let's take this bag of sticky rice.
- 佳怡 Jiayi好，听你的。Hǎo, tīng nǐ de.Okay, I'll follow your lead.
