[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"daily-2026-07-24":3},{"date":4,"status":5,"dateLayer":6,"allowQuiz":18,"podcastTopicKey":36,"bundle":37},"2026-07-24","published",{"dateStr":4,"gregorianEn":7,"gregorianZh":8,"weekdayEn":9,"weekdayZh":10,"lunar":11,"lunarLabelZh":19,"lunarLabelEn":20,"zodiacAnimalEn":21,"zodiacAnimalZh":22,"zodiacYearEn":23,"ganzhiYear":24,"solarTermToday":25,"currentSolarTerm":26,"nextSolarTerm":30,"festivals":35},"July 24, 2026","2026年7月24日","Friday","星期五",{"year":12,"month":13,"day":14,"isLeapMonth":15,"monthName":16,"dayName":17,"inRange":18},2026,6,11,false,"六月","十一",true,"六月十一","11th day of the 6th lunar month","Horse","马","Year of the Horse","丙午",null,{"zh":27,"en":28,"dateStr":29},"大暑","Major Heat","2026-07-23",{"zh":31,"en":32,"dateStr":33,"daysAway":34},"立秋","Start of Autumn","2026-08-07",14,[],"daily-2026-07-24",{"dateLayer":38,"hook":43,"word":85,"bands":103,"grammar":124,"quiz":141},{"dateStr":4,"gregorianEn":7,"gregorianZh":8,"weekdayEn":9,"weekdayZh":10,"lunar":39,"lunarLabelZh":19,"lunarLabelEn":20,"zodiacAnimalEn":21,"zodiacAnimalZh":22,"zodiacYearEn":23,"ganzhiYear":24,"solarTermToday":25,"currentSolarTerm":40,"nextSolarTerm":41,"festivals":42},{"year":12,"month":13,"day":14,"isLeapMonth":15,"monthName":16,"dayName":17,"inRange":18},{"zh":27,"en":28,"dateStr":29},{"zh":31,"en":32,"dateStr":33,"daysAway":34},[],{"tier":44,"category":45,"source":45,"titleEn":46,"titleZh":47,"titleZhPinyin":48,"noteEn":49,"allowGamify":18,"article":50,"insightEn":51,"todaySentenceZh":52,"todaySentencePinyin":53,"todaySentenceEn":54,"keyWords":55,"references":75,"cultureLink":82},8,"micro-culture","Sweet Rice Balls","汤圆","tāng yuán","Tāngyuán (汤圆) are sweet glutinous rice balls often enjoyed during the Lantern Festival. Their round shape symbolizes family unity and togetherness.","Sweet rice balls, or tāngyuán (汤圆), are a beloved traditional food in Chinese culture, especially enjoyed during the Lantern Festival, which marks the end of the Chinese New Year celebrations. These delicious treats are made from glutinous rice flour and often filled with sweet ingredients like sesame paste, red bean paste, or even peanut butter. The balls are typically boiled and served in a warm, sweet soup, which enhances their comforting texture and flavor. The round shape of tāngyuán is symbolic of reunions and the unity of family, making them a popular choice for festive gatherings[1].\n\nThe tradition of eating tāngyuán dates back centuries and is deeply rooted in Chinese cultural practices. During the Lantern Festival, families gather to enjoy these sweet treats while admiring the beautiful lantern displays. The act of sharing tāngyuán is seen as a way to strengthen the bond within the family and wish each other happiness and prosperity in the coming year. This tradition is particularly cherished in southern China, where regional variations of tāngyuán exist, each offering a unique twist on the classic recipe[2].\n\nInterestingly, the word 汤 (shāng), which means 'rushing current', shares a character with tāngyuán, although pronounced differently. This connection can remind learners of the flowing, warm broth in which tāngyuán are served, enhancing the experience of enjoying this dish. While 汤 in tāngyuán refers to 'soup', the character's other meaning evokes images of movement and flow, reflecting the dynamic nature of Chinese culture itself.\n\nAs we celebrate today, which falls on the 11th day of the 6th lunar month, it's an excellent opportunity to explore the rich tapestry of traditions that make up Chinese culture. Whether through enjoying tāngyuán or learning a new Chinese word, these experiences provide a window into the vibrant world of Chinese customs and language.","Tāngyuán's round shape symbolizes family unity and togetherness, reflecting its cultural significance.","今天我们吃汤圆。","Jīntiān wǒmen chī tāngyuán.","Today we eat sweet rice balls.",[56,59,63,67,71],{"hanzi":47,"pinyin":57,"en":58},"tāngyuán","sweet rice balls",{"hanzi":60,"pinyin":61,"en":62},"团圆","tuányuán","reunion",{"hanzi":64,"pinyin":65,"en":66},"节日","jiérì","festival",{"hanzi":68,"pinyin":69,"en":70},"家人","jiārén","family",{"hanzi":72,"pinyin":73,"en":74},"糯米","nuòmǐ","glutinous rice",[76,79],{"n":77,"text":78},1,"《中华传统节日》 Chinese Traditional Festivals",{"n":80,"text":81},2,"《民俗文化》 Folklore Culture",{"category":83,"label":84},"traditions","The Tradition of Tāngyuán",{"slug":86,"hanzi":87,"pinyin":88,"meaning":89,"pos":90,"level":91,"audioUrl":92,"faq":93},"hsk-4/%E6%B1%A4-tang1","汤","shāng","rushing current","n",4,"https://mandarintemple.com/wp-content/uploads/katemt_audio/s/Shang/shang1.wav",[94,97,100],{"question":95,"answer":96},"What is the difference between 汤 and 水?","汤 refers specifically to soup or broth, while 水 simply means water.",{"question":98,"answer":99},"Can 汤 be used to describe all types of soups?","Yes, 汤 can refer to various soups, including clear broths or thicker, hearty soups.",{"question":101,"answer":102},"Is 汤 used in formal writing?","Yes, 汤 can be used in both formal writing and casual conversations, especially when discussing food.",{"1-2":104,"3-4":109,"5-6":114,"7-9":119},{"sentenceZh":105,"pinyin":106,"en":107,"explainEn":108},"汤很热。","Tāng hěn rè.","The soup is hot.","Simple sentence stating a basic fact.",{"sentenceZh":110,"pinyin":111,"en":112,"explainEn":113},"他在喝汤。","Tā zài hē tāng.","He is drinking soup.","Describes an action using 汤.",{"sentenceZh":115,"pinyin":116,"en":117,"explainEn":118},"汤圆在汤里。","Tāngyuán zài tāng lǐ.","The sweet rice balls are in the soup.","Combines two meanings of 汤: soup and part of tāngyuán.",{"sentenceZh":120,"pinyin":121,"en":122,"explainEn":123},"生活如汤，流动不息。","Shēnghuó rú tāng, liúdòng bù xī.","Life is like a rushing current, flowing endlessly.","Metaphorical use of 汤 to describe life's flow.",{"title":125,"pattern":126,"explainEn":127,"usageNote":128,"examples":129},"Using 汤 in sentences","汤 + adjective","The character 汤 can be used to describe the state of soup with adjectives.","Use this pattern to describe soup or related dishes.",[130,134,137],{"zh":131,"pinyin":132,"en":133},"汤很咸。","Tāng hěn xián.","The soup is salty.",{"zh":135,"pinyin":136,"en":107},"汤很烫。","Tāng hěn tàng.",{"zh":138,"pinyin":139,"en":140},"汤很浓。","Tāng hěn nóng.","The soup is thick.",{"items":142,"reflectionPrompt":207},[143,154,162,170,178,183,191,200],{"id":144,"kind":144,"type":145,"prompt":146,"options":147,"answerIndex":152,"explainEn":153},"meaning","mc","What does 汤 mean?",[148,149,150,151],"Rushing current","Sweet rice balls","Family","Festival",0,"The primary meaning of 汤 is 'rushing current'.",{"id":155,"kind":155,"type":145,"prompt":156,"options":157,"answerIndex":152,"explainEn":161},"pinyin","How is 汤 pronounced?",[88,158,159,160],"tāng","shǎng","táng","The HSK 4 pronunciation of 汤 is 'shāng'.",{"id":163,"kind":163,"type":145,"prompt":164,"options":165,"answerIndex":152,"explainEn":169},"translate","How do you write \"rushing current\" in Chinese?",[87,166,167,168],"海","水","河","The character 汤 can mean 'rushing current'.",{"id":171,"kind":171,"type":145,"prompt":172,"options":173,"answerIndex":152,"explainEn":177,"audioText":105},"listening","Listen. What does the sentence mean?",[107,174,175,176],"The river is cold.","The day is warm.","The festival is lively.","The sentence clearly states that the soup is hot.",{"id":179,"kind":179,"type":179,"prompt":180,"answer":87,"accept":181,"explainEn":182},"fill","汤圆在___里。(The sweet rice balls are in the ___.)",[87],"The blank should be filled with 汤, meaning 'soup'.",{"id":184,"kind":184,"type":145,"prompt":185,"options":186,"answerIndex":152,"explainEn":190},"reading","汤圆在汤里。 — What does this sentence mean?",[117,187,188,189],"The soup is very sweet.","The river flows rapidly.","The festival is near.","The sentence describes the location of sweet rice balls.",{"id":192,"kind":192,"type":145,"prompt":193,"options":194,"answerIndex":152,"explainEn":199},"culture","What does the round shape of tāngyuán symbolize?",[195,196,197,198],"Reunion","Prosperity","Longevity","Friendship","The round shape of tāngyuán symbolizes reunion.",{"id":201,"kind":201,"type":201,"prompt":202,"ordered":203,"explainEn":206},"order","Arrange into a correct sentence",[47,204,87,205],"在","里","This is the correct order for the sentence 'The sweet rice balls are in the soup'.","Have you ever tried a traditional dish that symbolizes something special? What was it and what did it symbolize?"]