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March 24, 2026
西瓜xīguā(xi1gua1)
西瓜 (xī guā) means 'watermelon' in Mandarin. It is a popular summer fruit known for its refreshing taste and high water content. Commonly enjoyed in slices, it is often associated with picnics and outdoor gatherings in Chinese culture.
Frequency#11432DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In China, watermelon is often served during summer festivals and gatherings, especially during the Dragon Boat Festival. It's traditional to eat watermelon seeds as a snack while socializing.
Memory Tip
Imagine a 'west' (西) journey (瓜 sounds like 'gua' in 'guava') to find the juiciest watermelon. The character 西 (west) suggests that watermelons are often found in the west of China during summer.
Meanings of 西瓜
xīguā(xi1gua1)
1watermelon
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About 西瓜
西瓜Simplified
—Strokes
—Radical
地名míngcíplace name (p.n.)Part of Speech
#11432Frequency Rank
颗Measure Word
HSK 2.0L2HSK 3.0L3IntermediateTOCFLL4HSKKL2CEFRB1
Podcast: 西瓜
Podcast: 西瓜
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AI Study Notes for 西瓜
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a 'west' (西) journey (瓜 sounds like 'gua' in 'guava') to find the juiciest watermelon. The character 西 (west) suggests that watermelons are often found in the west of China during summer.
Usage Notes
When using 西瓜, it's important to remember that it is always a noun. A common mistake is conflating it with other fruits; ensure you pair it with the correct classifiers like 颗 (kē) for individual pieces. In informal settings, you can use it freely, but in formal contexts, ensure clarity in your descriptions.
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK Level 2 word, 西瓜 connects with other food vocabulary such as 苹果 (apple) and 香蕉 (banana). Students should focus on pronunciation and practicing in sentences that describe preferences or actions involving fruit.
Cultural Note
In China, watermelon is often served during summer festivals and gatherings, especially during the Dragon Boat Festival. It's traditional to eat watermelon seeds as a snack while socializing.
Common Mistakes
Learners often mistakenly use the wrong classifier; for example, saying '一西瓜' instead of '一个西瓜' (yī gè xī guā). Remember to use 个 (gè) correctly with 西瓜.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 西瓜
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Grammar Patterns of 西瓜
西瓜 functions as a noun — it names a person, place, thing, or concept. Place it as a subject before the verb (主+谓) or as an object after the verb (谓+宾). Most Chinese nouns require a measure word between the number and the noun (e.g. 一个/三本). It carries 3 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
In China, watermelon is often served during summer festivals and gatherings, especially during the Dragon Boat Festival. It's traditional to eat watermelon seeds as a snack while socializing.
Frequently Asked Questions about 西瓜
You can say '我喜欢西瓜' (Wǒ xǐhuān xī guā).
Watermelon is typically enjoyed during the hot summer months, especially in July and August.
Yes, there are many varieties of watermelons in China, including seedless and different colors like yellow and red.
