糖
táng
The Chinese word for sugar is 糖 (táng).
糖 is the general term for sugar, but it can also refer to candy or anything sweet in many contexts. Related verbs include 加甜 and 加糖, which mean to add sugar to something or to sweeten it.
Meaning: sucrose from sugar cane or sugar beet used to sweeten food and drink (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The character 糖 can mean sugar, candy or sweet.
Which one should you use?
While 糖 is the general term, you can be more specific: 白糖 refers to white sugar and 红糖 refers to brown sugar. If you are referring specifically to granulated or refined sugar, you use 砂糖.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
To discuss the sugar content within food or drinks, use the term 糖分.
How do you pronounce it?
táng
Did you know?
- The character 糖 contains the radical 米, which means 'rice'. This reflects the ancient Chinese practice of creating sweeteners from fermented grains.
- In traditional Chinese culture, 糖 is often used during weddings and engagements to symbolize a sweet and harmonious marriage.
- The Chinese word for 'candy' 糖果 literally translates to 'sugar fruit', combining the word for sugar with the word for fruit.
Examples in context
- 我們需要多少糖？How much sugar do we need?This sentence is useful for asking about the required amount of 糖.Tatoeba #5414482 by egg0073, translation #2535323 by Amastan
- 红茶里要加糖吗？Would you like some sugar in your tea?This sentence is useful for asking if someone wants to add 糖 to their tea.Tatoeba #8891565 by crescat, translation #1105358 by CM
- 那個盒子裡有糖。There is sugar in that box.This sentence is useful for stating the presence of 糖 in a container.Tatoeba #13519220 by LeviHighway, translation #13237530 by atitarev
- 请给我一点糖。(Qǐng gěi wǒ yīdiǎn táng.)Please give me some sugar.
- 这个蛋糕需要多少砂糖？(Zhège dàngāo xūyào duōshǎo shātáng?)How much granulated sugar does this cake need?
- 46 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
俊杰 and 雨婷 are making coffee at home.
- 俊杰 Junjie咖啡里要放糖吗？Kāfēi lǐ yào fàng táng ma?Do you want sugar in your coffee?
- 雨婷 Yuting我不需要放糖。Wǒ bù xūyào fàng táng.I don't need sugar.
- 俊杰 Junjie那我就不加了。Nà wǒ jiù bù jiā le.Then I won't add any.
- 雨婷 Yuting谢谢你，俊杰。Xièxiè nǐ, Jùnjié.Thank you, Junjie.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “sugar” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 糖, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
