橘子
júzi
To say tangerine in Chinese, use 橘子 (júzi). If unsure, use 橘子. Wiktionary also lists 甌柑 / 瓯柑 (ōugān).
Meaning: fruit (noun)
Ways to say it
| Chinese | Romanization (Wiktionary) |
|---|---|
| 橘子 | júzi |
| 甌柑 / 瓯柑 | ōugān |
橘子 is the common word for tangerines and mandarin oranges. The character 橘 can stand alone as a short form in many contexts.
Which one should you use?
橙子 (chéngzi) means orange, so keep the two apart. 甌柑 / 瓯柑 (ōugān) is a particular local kind of tangerine.
Is it said differently in some regions?
柑桔 (Gānjú) covers tangerines and related citrus fruits and is common in southern provinces like Guangdong, Fujian and Hainan. In Sichuan and Yunnan 桔 (Jú) is widely used.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
Count the fruit with the measure word 个 (gè).
How do you pronounce it?
In pinyin it is júzi, with a rising tone and then a light toneless syllable.
When do people say it?
Giving tangerines at the Lunar New Year is a common way to wish someone good luck and prosperity.
Did you know?
- There is a famous Chinese idiom 橘化为枳 (jú huà wéi zhǐ), which describes how a tangerine tree can turn into a bitter orange tree if planted in the wrong soil.
- The word 橘 is a homophone for 'luck' (吉) in some dialects, which is why these fruits are essential symbols of prosperity during the Lunar New Year.
- In many Chinese poems, the word 橘 (jú) is used as a symbol for a person's integrity and pure character, rather than just the fruit.
Examples in context
- 我今天去市场买了一袋橙子。Today, I went to the market and bought a bag of tangerines.
- 这个季节桔子很甜。The tangerines are very sweet this season.
- 这个橘子很甜。Zhège júzi hěn tián.This tangerine is very sweet.
- 我想买一些橘子。Wǒ xiǎng mǎi yìxiē júzi.I want to buy some tangerines.
- 桌子上有一个橘子。Zhuōzi shàng yǒu yígè júzi.There is a tangerine on the table.
Example conversation
A couple is at the grocery store.
- 晓雯 Xiaowen志强，你看这些橘子新鲜吗？Zhìqiáng, nǐ kàn zhèxiē júzi xīnxiān ma?Zhiqiang, do you think these tangerines look fresh?
- 志强 Zhiqiang看起来很不错。Kàn qǐlái hěn búcuò.They look very good.
- 晓雯 Xiaowen那我们买一袋吧。Nà wǒmen mǎi yí dài ba.Then let's buy a bag.
- 志强 Zhiqiang好，我去拿塑料袋。Hǎo, wǒ qù ná sùliàodài.Okay, I'll go get a plastic bag.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “tangerine” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
