Wonton, a delicious and popular Chinese dish, has gained popularity worldwide. If you’re interested in learning how to say “wonton” in Mandarin, this guide is here to help! In Mandarin, “wonton” is written as “云吞” and pronounced as “yún tūn”. Below, you will find the formal and informal ways to say “wonton” in Mandarin, along with some regional variations if necessary. Let’s dive in!
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Formal Ways to Say Wonton in Mandarin
When using formal language, it’s important to be respectful and polite. Here are some formal ways to say “wonton” in Mandarin:
1. 云吞 (yún tūn)
The most standard and widely accepted term for “wonton” in Mandarin is “云吞” (yún tūn). It is recognized and understood throughout China and many other Mandarin-speaking regions. This is the go-to term in formal settings and is used in written language as well.
2. 馄饨 (hún tún)
Another formal term for “wonton” is “馄饨” (hún tún). While “云吞” is more commonly used, “馄饨” is still recognized and used in various parts of China. It is particularly prevalent in northern regions like Beijing and Tianjin.
Informal Ways to Say Wonton in Mandarin
When speaking informally, you can use more casual terms to refer to “wonton”. Here are a few informal ways to say “wonton” in Mandarin:
1. 抄手 (chāo shǒu)
“抄手” (chāo shǒu) is a colloquial term used in many parts of China to refer to “wonton”. It originated in the Sichuan province and is widely used in casual conversations.
2. 云吞面 (yún tūn miàn)
In informal contexts, you can also refer to a bowl of wonton noodles as “云吞面” (yún tūn miàn), where “面” (miàn) means noodles. This term is commonly used in teahouses and street food stalls.
Regional Variations
While “云吞” (yún tūn) and “馄饨” (hún tún) are widely understood across regions, there are some regional variations worth mentioning:
1. 餛飩 (hún dun)
In northern regions like Beijing, Tianjin, and Hebei, “餛飩” (hún dun) is used instead of “云吞” or “馄饨”. The pronunciation is similar to “hún tún”, but the character for “tún” is different.
2. 扁食 (biǎn shí)
In the Shanghai region, people often use “扁食” (biǎn shí) to refer to “wonton”. This term is unique to the local dialect and is commonly used in local eateries and restaurants.
Fun Fact: Wonton has different names in various Chinese dialects and regional cuisines. For example, in Cantonese, another prominent Chinese dialect, “wonton” is known as “云吞” (wàn tān).
Conclusion
Congratulations! You have learned the various ways to say “wonton” in Mandarin. Remember, “云吞” (yún tūn) and “馄饨” (hún tún) are the formal terms, while “抄手” (chāo shǒu) and “云吞面” (yún tūn miàn) are more informal. Additionally, regional variations like “餛飩” (hún dun) in the north and “扁食” (biǎn shí) in Shanghai add diversity to the mix. Enjoy your next bowl of wonton soup and impress your friends with your knowledge of Mandarin!
