糰 (tuán) - A ball-shaped mass & dumpling

糰Tone 2

tuán ｜ 20 strokes ｜ radical:

婷婉

糰 · tuán

A ball-shaped mass;

dumpling;

especially refers to glutinous rice balls (tangyuan).

A ball-shaped massdumplingespecially refers to glutinous rice balls (tangyuan).

Usage highlights

rice ballsweet rice ballsesame rice ballstuffed rice ballyarn ballmeatball

Synonyms

  • 團— round mass; group; regiment
  • 圓子— round dumpling; ball-shaped food
  • 湯圓— soup dumplings; tangyuan

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • We eat sweet rice balls (甜糰子) during the Lantern Festival.
  • She made delicious sesame rice balls (芝麻糰).
  • The children played with a ball of yarn (線糰).
  • They sell various stuffed rice balls (餡糰) at the market.

Collocations

  • rice ball(糰子)
  • sweet rice ball(甜糰)
  • sesame rice ball(芝麻糰)
  • stuffed rice ball(餡糰)
  • yarn ball(線糰)
  • meatball(肉糰)

Idioms

  • Round and complete like a rice ball(團團圓圓)
  • Gathering together in a circle(團團圍住)
  • A ball of harmony(和氣團團)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • Tangyuan (糰子) are traditionally eaten during the Lantern Festival, symbolizing family reunion and completeness.
  • The round shape represents wholeness and unity in Chinese culture.
  • Rice balls are also common in various Asian cuisines with different fillings and preparations.

FAQ