baau1 zi2包子
Jyutpingbaau1 zi2
Yalebāau jí
Definition
Steamed bun; a Chinese-style bun that is typically steamed.
colloquialfooddim sum
How it's used
While 包子 is understood in Hong Kong, locals almost exclusively use the generic term 包 to refer to any kind of bun, whether steamed or baked. Using the full term 包子 can sound slightly formal or like a direct translation from Mandarin. If you are at a dim sum restaurant, you would typically specify the filling, such as 叉燒包 or 奶黃包, rather than using the generic term.
Measure word
go3個goExamples
How many steamed buns did you buy and bring back?
The steamed buns at this shop are much better than those outside.
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often use 包子 as a catch-all for all types of bread, but it specifically refers to steamed buns with filling. Using it to describe a loaf of bread or a plain dinner roll will sound unnatural to native speakers.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- NegationHow to say no, not, didn't, and don't in Cantonese. The four main negation words and when to use each one.
- Numbers and moneyCounting, talking about money, and asking how much things cost. Includes the two words for two and the everyday words for dollars and cents.
- Aspect markersCantonese has no tenses, but it does have aspect markers. Learn how zo2, gwo3, gan2, and hai2 dou6 show completion, experience, and ongoing action.
