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糰 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
糰tuánrice ballx, 20 strokes, radical 米
tuán(tuan2) T2
  1. 1rice ball
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March 24, 2026

糰tuán(tuan2)

The character 糰 (tuán) refers to a type of rice ball, often made of glutinous rice and sometimes filled with various ingredients. It is commonly associated with traditional Chinese food and is often seen during festivals or as a snack. The term can also imply a round shape, emphasizing the spherical form of the rice ball.

Strokes20Radical米
Cultural Note

糰 is particularly significant during festivals like the Lantern Festival (元宵节), where glutinous rice balls symbolize reunion and harmony among family members. Eating 糰 during this time is a tradition that reflects the importance of togetherness in Chinese culture.

Memory Tip

Think of a 'tuán' as a 'twin' rice ball, perfectly round and hugging each other. The character 糰 has the radical for rice (米) indicating its rice base, while the 'tuan' sounds like 'twin' to help you remember its shape and pronunciation.

Meanings of 糰

tuán(tuan2)
1rice ball
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

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About 糰

糰Simplified
20Strokes
米Radical
非语素字non-morpheme character (n-m.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 糰

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Podcast: 糰

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AI Study Notes for 糰

Quick Contrast

团 (tuán) - typically refers to a group or a collective, while 糰 (tuán) specifically denotes a type of rice ball.

Usage Notes

糰 (tuán) is often used in informal settings, especially in conversations about food. Be careful not to confuse it with other similar terms like 饺子 (jiǎozi, dumplings) or 包子 (bāozi, buns), which have different meanings. The tone is crucial; remember to pronounce it with a rising tone (2nd tone).

HSK Study Tips

Although 糰 is not part of the HSK vocabulary, it can be related to other food items you may learn at this level, such as 米饭 (mǐfàn, rice) and 饭团 (fàntuán, rice balls). Focus on recognizing the components and their meanings to expand your food-related vocabulary.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 糰 (tuán) with other food-related characters. For example, saying 糰 when referring to 饺子 (jiǎozi) is incorrect; make sure to use the right term based on the dish you're discussing.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 糰

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Etymology of 糰

Formation TypeIdeographic 指事
六书 ClassificationIdeograph (指事字)~2% of characters
Explanation

Simplified form of 團. Phonosemantic compound. 囗 represents the meaning and 專 represents the sound.

Memory Hint

A rice 米 ball 團; 團 also provides the pronunciation

Learn more about Ideograph (指事字) characters
Exercise 1 of 1

Origin

What kind of character is 糰?

Decomposition of 糰

IDS Structure⿰米團
糰Full Character
=
米Mi3
left
團tuan2
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 糰?

How to say rice ball in Chinese

“rice ball” in Chinese is糰tuán

The character 糰 (tuán) refers to a type of rice ball, often made of glutinous rice and sometimes filled with various ingredients. It is commonly associated with traditional Chinese food and is often seen during festivals or as a snack. The term can also imply a round shape, emphasizing the spherical form of the rice ball.

When to use 糰

糰 (tuán) is often used in informal settings, especially in conversations about food. Be careful not to confuse it with other similar terms like 饺子 (jiǎozi, dumplings) or 包子 (bāozi, buns), which have different meanings. The tone is crucial; remember to pronounce it with a rising tone (2nd tone).

糰 or something close to it

团 (tuán) - typically refers to a group or a collective, while 糰 (tuán) specifically denotes a type of rice ball.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 糰 (tuán) with other food-related characters. For example, saying 糰 when referring to 饺子 (jiǎozi) is incorrect; make sure to use the right term based on the dish you're discussing.

Write 糰

糰

Practice writing 糰 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

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Word Family of 糰

Words Containing This Character20
团tuánround團
集团jítuángroup集團
团队tuánduìteam團隊
陪审团jury陪審團
团结tuánjiéto unite團結
团体tuántǐgroup團體
一团糟chaos一團糟
代表团dàibiǎotuándelegation代表團
团伙tuánhuǒ(criminal) gang團伙
马戏团circus馬戲團
军团corps軍團
团聚tuánjùto reunite團聚
乐团band樂團
社团shètuánassociation社團
团长tuánzhǎngregimental command團長
合唱团chorus合唱團
兵团formation兵團
团团转to go round and round團團轉
剧团jùtuántheatrical troupe劇團
谜团mítuánriddle謎團
Exercise 1 of 4

Characters with 糰

What does 团 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 糰

Common fillings include sweet black sesame paste, red bean paste, or savory ingredients like minced pork.

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