Fruit Names in Chinese
Knowing how to say certain types of fruit in Chinese can be really fun and also necessary in many everyday life situations! Imagine yourself on a street market in China with tons of different fruit in front of you, and you wish to buy some number of each. Or imagine cooking together with your Chinese friend and you wish to say “Pass me the pineapple please”! What to do? Learning fruit names in Chinese will enhance your vocabulary but will also give you insight into the way Chinese word formation works. This article will cover common fruit names, measure words for fruits, and some fruit-related idioms and proverbs. Let’s get into it!
Common Fruit Names in Chinese
- 苹果 (píngguǒ) – Apple
- 香蕉 (xiāngjiāo) – Banana
- 橙子 (chéngzi) – Orange
- 草莓 (cǎoméi) – Strawberry
- 西瓜 (xīguā) – Watermelon
- 葡萄 (pútáo) – Grape
- 梨子 (lízi) – Pear
- 桃子 (táozi) – Peach
- 柠檬 (níngméng) – Lemon
- 芒果 (mángguǒ) – Mango
- 樱桃 (yīngtáo) – Cherry
- 柚子 (yòuzi) – Pomelo
- 猕猴桃 (míhóutáo) – Kiwi
- 菠萝 (bōluó) – Pineapple
- 荔枝 (lìzhī) – Lychee
- 杏子 (xìngzi) – Apricot
Actually, these names are just the beginning. As you dive deeper into learning Chinese, you’ll find that many fruits are associated with specific regions and seasons, reflecting the diverse landscape of China!
Measure Words for Fruits
In Chinese, measure words (量词, liàngcí) are used to quantify nouns. This concept is unfamiliar to native speakers of European languages. It work sthis way: Whenever you wish to say “one apple”, for example, you must put a certain measure word between “one” and “apple”. This of course does not just apply to fruit, but to every noun in Chinese with few exceptions. Now, what you need to take away today is that different measure words are used for different fruits. Here are some common measure words for fruits:
- 颗 (kē) – Used for small, round fruits like grapes (葡萄, pútáo), cherries (樱桃, yīngtáo), and lychees (荔枝, lìzhī).
– Example: 一颗葡萄 (yī kē pútáo) – One grape
- 串 (chuàn) – Used for fruits that come in bunches or clusters, such as grapes (葡萄, pútáo) and bananas (香蕉, xiāngjiāo).
– Example: 一串葡萄 (yī chuàn pútáo) – A bunch of grapes
- 根 (gēn) – Used for long, slender fruits like bananas (香蕉, xiāngjiāo) and carrots (胡萝卜, húluóbo).
– Example: 一根香蕉 (yī gēn xiāngjiāo) – One banana
- 粒 (lì) – Used for small, individual fruits or seeds, such as grapes (葡萄, pútáo) and cherries (樱桃, yīngtáo).
– Example: 一粒樱桃 (yī lì yīngtáo) – One cherry
- 个 (gè) – The most common measure word, used for many fruits like apples (苹果, píngguǒ), oranges (橙子, chéngzi), and pears (梨, lí).
– Example: 一个苹果 (yī gè píngguǒ) – One apple
You must know that, if you are not sure about a certain measure word, you can always use 个 (gè) to get around it. It will be understood and its usage has been expanding. However, you should always aim to use the correct measure words. It is not very elegant, let’s say, to always use 个 (gè), as Chinese native speakers certainly will use the correct measure word, which is most authentic and natural.
Idioms related to Fruit
The Chinese language is rich with idioms (成语, chéngyǔ) and proverbs (俗语, súyǔ), among which there are many also related to fruit! Here are a few examples:
- 顺藤摸瓜 (shùn téng mō guā) – “Following the vine to find the melon.” This idiom means to follow clues to find the solution to a problem.
– Example: 破案的时候要顺藤摸瓜，才能找到真相。(Pò àn de shíhou yào shùn téng mō guā, cái néng zhǎodào zhēnxiàng.) – “When solving a case, you need to follow the clues to find the truth.”
- 投桃报李 (tóu táo bào lǐ) – “To return a favor.” Literally, it means “to give a plum in return for a peach,” signifying mutual exchange and reciprocity.
– Example: 你帮了我，这次我也要投桃报李，帮你一把。(Nǐ bāng le wǒ, zhè cì wǒ yě yào tóu táo bào lǐ, bāng nǐ yī bǎ.) – “You helped me, so this time I want to return the favor and help you.”
- 望梅止渴 (wàng méi zhǐ kě) – “To quench one’s thirst by thinking of plums.” This proverb describes using imaginary satisfaction to alleviate real desires or hardships.
– Example: 听说公司的奖金要增加，但现在只能望梅止渴。(Tīng shuō gōngsī de jiǎngjīn yào zēngjiā, dàn xiànzài zhǐ néng wàng méi zhǐ kě.) – “I’ve heard that the company’s bonuses will increase, but for now, we can only imagine it to feel better.”
- 种瓜得瓜，种豆得豆 (Zhǒng guā dé guā, zhǒng dòu dé dòu) – “Plant a melon, get a melon; Plant beans, get beans.” Yes, this idiom translates to the English saying “You reap what you sow.”, often shortened to only the first part.
– Example: 他从小就喜欢帮助别人，长大后他也得到了很多人的帮助，这正是种瓜得瓜，种豆得豆的道理。(Tā cóng xiǎo jiù xǐhuān bāngzhù biérén, zhǎngdà hòu tā yě dédào le hěn duō rén de bāngzhù, zhè zhèng shì zhòng guā dé guā, zhòng dòu dé dòu de dàolǐ.) – “He liked helping others since he was young, and as he grew up, he received help from many people. This is exactly the principle of ‘you reap what you sow.'”
Learning related idioms and proverbs will also give you cultural insights and make your speech more colourful! Knowing fruit names, the appropriate measure words, and related idioms in Chinese can significantly enrich your language skills. Whether you are shopping at a local market, enjoying a meal with friends, or perhaps exploring Chinese literature, these elements will help you appreciate the language more deeply!
