瓜Tone 1

guā ｜ 5 strokes ｜ radical: 瓜

瓜 · guā

melon;

gourd;

squash;

cucumber;

a melon-shaped object;

slang for head or face.

melongourdsquash

Usage highlights

watermeloncucumberpumpkinmelon seedsbitter melonwinter melon

Synonyms

果— fruit (general term)
瓠— bottle gourd

Usage & contexts

Examples

I bought a watermelon (西瓜) from the market.
She grows cucumbers (黄瓜) in her garden.
This pumpkin (南瓜) is very big.
He cut the melon (瓜) into slices.

Collocations

watermelon(西瓜)
cucumber(黄瓜)
pumpkin(南瓜)
melon seeds(瓜子)
bitter melon(苦瓜)
winter melon(冬瓜)

Idioms

Drop the melon and pick up the plum — abandon one for another(瓜田李下)
Broken melon and split dates — broken into pieces(瓜剖豆分)
Vines of melon and branches of plum — close relatives(瓜葛相连)

Cultural background

Symbol of fertility and abundance due to its many seeds.
In Chinese slang, 'eating melon' (吃瓜) refers to being an onlooker or spectator to gossip or drama.
Traditionally associated with summer and harvest festivals.

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