粽子 (zòngzi) · zongzi, sticky rice dumpling

Meanings

1 zongzi
2 sticky rice dumpling

Made with

糯米 nuòmǐ 红枣 hóngzǎo 红豆 hóngdòu 猪肉 zhūròu 咸蛋黄 xiándànhuáng 栗子 lìzi

About the dish

Glutinous rice wrapped in bamboo or reed leaves and boiled, sticky and dense. Sweet ones hold red bean paste or dates; savoury southern ones hold pork, salted egg yolk or chestnut. Unwrap the leaves; they are not eaten.

Usually contains egg

Characters

Examples

HSK 4

你喜欢吃甜粽子还是咸粽子？

Nǐ xǐhuan chī tián zòngzi háishì xián zòngzi?

Do you prefer sweet or savory zongzi?

HSK 7-9

端午节的时候我们一家人一起包粽子。

Duānwǔjié de shíhou wǒmen yìjiārén yìqǐ bāo zòngzi.

During the Dragon Boat Festival, our whole family wraps zongzi together.

Tips

culture

Eaten during the Dragon Boat Festival (端午节, 5th day of 5th lunar month) to commemorate the poet Qu Yuan. Northern China favors sweet fillings (red bean, dates), while southern China prefers savory (pork, egg yolk).

history

Legend says locals threw rice into the river to prevent fish from eating 屈原's body after he drowned himself in 278 BC. This evolved into the tradition of wrapping rice in leaves.