How to Say "Tomato" in Chinese

西紅柿 / 西红柿

xīhóngshì

The English word tomato is translated into Chinese as 西紅柿 / 西红柿 (xīhóngshì). Wiktionary also lists 番茄 (fānqié) and 柿子 (shìzi).

Meaning: fruit (noun)

Ways to say it

The term 西紅柿 / 西红柿 literally translates to 'Western red persimmon', which reflects the history of how the fruit was introduced to China.

西紅柿 / 西红柿 is more common in daily spoken Chinese. In contrast, 番茄 is more common in formal writing, scientific settings and culinary contexts.

柿子 is a dialectal form.

xīhóngshì

Do not use 柿子 to mean tomato. In Chinese, 柿子 specifically refers to the persimmon fruit.

The term 番茄 shares a linguistic root with the Thai word for tomato, which also combines 'eggplant' and 'foreign'.
In Chinese culture, tomatoes are frequently paired with eggs in a quintessential home-style dish that is often the first recipe learned by students.
The word 番 in 番茄 was historically used by the Chinese to describe people or things from foreign lands, particularly Southeast Asia.

番茄是蔬菜而不是水果。
The tomato is a vegetable, not a fruit.
This sentence is useful for illustrating the botanical distinction between a vegetable and a fruit using 番茄.
Tatoeba #1788075 by sadhen, translation #37442 by CM
BLT 代表培根、生菜和番茄。
BLT stands for bacon, lettuce and tomato.
This sentence shows how to list ingredients in a sandwich using 番茄.
Tatoeba #13539360 by LeviHighway, translation #2747481 by Hybrid
番茄容易遭受很多病害。
The tomato is subject to a number of diseases.
This sentence describes the botanical vulnerabilities of the plant using 番茄.
Tatoeba #333374 by fucongcong, translation #37443 by AlanF_US
我喜欢吃西红柿汤。
I like to eat tomato soup.
请再给我一些西红柿。
Please give me some more tomatoes.
我今天要做番茄炒蛋。
Today, I'm going to make tomato scrambled eggs.
你能帮我买些番茄吗？
Can you help me buy some tomatoes?
2 more sentences on Tatoeba

Sources

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