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粑 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
粑bātsamba, flat rice cakeg, 10 strokes, radical 米, rank #49561, Very Hard
粑bāa round flat cake (dialect)unknown, 10 strokes, radical 米, rank #49561, Very Hard
bā(ba1) T1
  1. 1tsamba, flat rice cake
  2. 2a round flat cake (dialect)
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

粑bā(ba1)

The character 粑 (bā) refers to a type of flat rice cake, often associated with various regional Chinese cuisines. It can denote tsamba, a traditional staple food made from roasted barley flour, and is commonly consumed in certain dialect areas. The term is primarily used in informal contexts related to food.

Strokes10Radical米Frequency#49561DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note

In certain areas of China, such as Tibet and among ethnic groups, 粑 is an important part of the diet, showcasing how food plays a role in cultural identity and traditions. It's often made during festivals and family gatherings.

Memory Tip

Imagine a round cake (the shape of 粑) made from rice flour that is so tasty, it makes you go 'bā!' just like a happy sound when you eat something delicious. The character has a 'grain' radical (米) at the bottom, reminding you of its rice-based nature.

Meanings of 粑

bā(ba1)
1tsamba, flat rice cake
2a round flat cake (dialect)
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 粑

粑Simplified
10Strokes
米Radical
语素morpheme (morph.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 粑

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Podcast: 粑

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AI Study Notes for 粑

Usage Notes

While 粑 is generally informal, it’s important to note that its usage can vary by region, leading to potential misunderstandings. Be cautious when using it in formal contexts or with unfamiliar audiences. It often collocates with terms like '吃 (chī)' meaning 'to eat' or '做 (zuò)' meaning 'to make'.

HSK Study Tips

This word is not part of the official HSK vocabulary, but it is relevant for learners interested in regional foods or dialects. Focus on the pronunciation and regional variations to enhance understanding when discussing food in Chinese.

Common Mistakes

Learners might confuse 粑 with other similar food terms like 饼 (bǐng), which means 'cake' or 'pancake'. Remember that 饼 can refer to a wider variety of cakes, while 粑 is specific to flat rice cakes.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 粑

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Etymology of 粑

Formation Typepictophonetic
六书 ClassificationPhono-semantic (形声字)~80-90% of characters
Memory Hint

rice

Semantic (meaning)米
+
Phonetic (sound)巴
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 粑

  1. 1The meaning half米 carries the sense.
  2. 2The sound half巴 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
  3. 3The giveawayrice
  4. 4On the record aspictophonetic.

Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.

Want the full history of 粑? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.

Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.
Exercise 1 of 1

Character Formation Type

What type of character formation is 粑?

Decomposition of 粑

IDS Structure⿰米巴
粑Full Character
=
米Mi3
left
巴Ba1
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 粑?

How to say tsamba, flat rice cake in Chinese

“tsamba, flat rice cake” in Chinese is粑bā

The character 粑 (bā) refers to a type of flat rice cake, often associated with various regional Chinese cuisines. It can denote tsamba, a traditional staple food made from roasted barley flour, and is commonly consumed in certain dialect areas. The term is primarily used in informal contexts related to food.

When to use 粑

While 粑 is generally informal, it’s important to note that its usage can vary by region, leading to potential misunderstandings. Be cautious when using it in formal contexts or with unfamiliar audiences. It often collocates with terms like '吃 (chī)' meaning 'to eat' or '做 (zuò)' meaning 'to make'.

What learners get wrong

Learners might confuse 粑 with other similar food terms like 饼 (bǐng), which means 'cake' or 'pancake'. Remember that 饼 can refer to a wider variety of cakes, while 粑 is specific to flat rice cakes.

Write 粑

粑

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

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Word Family of 粑

Words Containing This Character3
粑bāa round flat cake (dialect)
糍粑sticky rice cake
糌粑tsamba, Tibetan barley bread
Exercise 1 of 3

Compound Meaning

What does 粑 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 粑

粑 specifically refers to a flat rice cake often associated with certain regional cuisines, whereas other rice cakes can vary widely in shape and preparation.

Jason Recommends

Not sure what to learn after 粑?

Jason picks three words from your level and explains why each one is worth your time next. It takes a free account so he knows what you already know.