大米
dàmǐ
The English phrase "uncooked rice" is translated into Chinese as 大米 (dàmǐ).
大米 is specifically used for the dry, raw grains used for cooking, rather than the food product on the plate.
Meaning: rice that has not been cooked (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The term 大米 literally translates to 'large rice', where 大 means 'big' and 米 means 'rice'.
Which one should you use?
While 大米 refers to uncooked rice grains, 米饭 refers to rice that has already been cooked.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Cantonese, the term 米 can be used to refer to uncooked rice.
How do you pronounce it?
dàmǐ
Did you know?
- In Chinese culture, uncooked rice is often used in traditional folk rituals to ward off evil spirits or to 'cleanse' a home by scattering it across the floor.
- In certain Chinese culinary contexts, the phrase 'to have rice' (有米, yǒu mǐ) is a colloquial way to say one is prosperous or has enough food to eat, rather than literally possessing the physical grains.
- The character 米 is a pictograph that originally looked like a handful of scattered grains of rice.
Examples in context
- 超市里有各种品牌的生米，你喜欢哪种？The supermarket has various brands of uncooked rice, which one do you like?
- 这袋大米很干净。Zhè dài dàmǐ hěn gānjìng.This bag of uncooked rice is very clean.
- 我买了五斤大米。Wǒ mǎile wǔ jīn dàmǐ.I bought five jin of uncooked rice.
- 大米快用完了。Dàmǐ kuài yòng wán le.The uncooked rice is almost gone.
Example conversation
At a grocery store, Xiaowen and Wei are shopping.
- 晓雯 Xiaowen伟，我们要买大米吗？Wěi, wǒmen yào mǎi dàmǐ ma?Wei, do we need to buy uncooked rice?
- 伟 Wei是的，家里的大米没了。Shì de, jiālǐ de dàmǐ méi le.Yes, the uncooked rice at home is finished.
- 晓雯 Xiaowen那买哪种大米好？Nà mǎi nǎ zhǒng dàmǐ hǎo?Then which kind of uncooked rice is good to buy?
- 伟 Wei买这种大米吧。Mǎi zhè zhǒng dàmǐ ba.Let's buy this kind of uncooked rice.
