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粽 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
粽zònga dumpling made of glutinous riceHSK 6, zg, 14 strokes, radical 米, rank #65340, Hard
粽zòngrice dumplings wrapped in leavesHSK 6, unknown, 14 strokes, radical 米, rank #65340, Hard
zòng(zong4) T4
  1. 1a dumpling made of glutinous rice
  2. 2rice dumplings wrapped in leaves
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

粽zòng(zong4)

粽 (zòng) refers to a traditional Chinese rice dumpling made from glutinous rice, often filled with ingredients such as meat or beans, and wrapped in bamboo or reed leaves. These dumplings are particularly associated with the Dragon Boat Festival, where they symbolize the remembrance of the poet Qu Yuan.

Strokes14Radical米Frequency#65340DifficultyHard
Cultural Note

粽 is deeply embedded in Chinese culture, particularly during the Dragon Boat Festival (端午节), where families prepare and eat these dumplings to honor Qu Yuan, a famous poet and statesman.

Memory Tip

Imagine a big, green leaf wrapping around a sticky, glutinous rice dumpling—this visual can help you remember '粽' (zòng). The character looks like a rice dumpling (the square shape) being embraced by leaves, reinforcing its meaning.

Meanings of 粽

zòng(zong4)
1a dumpling made of glutinous rice
2rice dumplings wrapped in leaves
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 粽

粽Simplified
14Strokes
米Radical
状态词stative word (stat.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L6IntermediateCEFRC1

Podcast: 粽

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Podcast: 粽

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AI Study Notes for 粽

Usage Notes

When using 粽, be mindful that it is typically used in the context of festivals and food. A common mistake is to confuse it with other types of dumplings; 粽 specifically refers to the leaf-wrapped version. Ensure you use the correct tone (fourth tone) to avoid confusion with similar-sounding words.

HSK Study Tips

Although 粽 is not part of the official HSK vocabulary, it can be beneficial for learners at HSK 3 or higher to know this word when discussing cultural topics. Focus on the context of traditional festivals to enhance your vocabulary.

Common Mistakes

Learners often mistakenly use the term '饺子' (jiǎozi) to refer to 粽, which is incorrect as 饺子 are a different type of dumpling. Always remember that 粽 specifically refers to the rice dumpling wrapped in leaves.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 粽

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Etymology of 粽

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

Phonosemantic compound. 米 represents the meaning and 宗 represents the sound. Simplified form of 糉.

Memory Hint

rice

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

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 粽

Phonosemantic compound. 米 represents the meaning and 宗 represents the sound. Simplified form of 糉.

  1. 1The meaning half米 carries the sense.
  2. 2The sound half宗 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 粽? 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 粽?

Decomposition of 粽

IDS Structure⿰米宗
粽Full Character
=
米Mi3
left
宗Zong1
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 粽?

How to say a dumpling made of glutinous rice in Chinese

“a dumpling made of glutinous rice” in Chinese is粽zòng

粽 (zòng) refers to a traditional Chinese rice dumpling made from glutinous rice, often filled with ingredients such as meat or beans, and wrapped in bamboo or reed leaves. These dumplings are particularly associated with the Dragon Boat Festival, where they symbolize the remembrance of the poet Qu Yuan.

When to use 粽

When using 粽, be mindful that it is typically used in the context of festivals and food. A common mistake is to confuse it with other types of dumplings; 粽 specifically refers to the leaf-wrapped version. Ensure you use the correct tone (fourth tone) to avoid confusion with similar-sounding words.

What learners get wrong

Learners often mistakenly use the term '饺子' (jiǎozi) to refer to 粽, which is incorrect as 饺子 are a different type of dumpling. Always remember that 粽 specifically refers to the rice dumpling wrapped in leaves.

Write 粽

粽

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

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Cultural Notes for 粽

🌏Cross-cultural Insight

Unlike Western dumplings, which are often made from wheat flour and can be filled with various ingredients, 粽 is unique in its use of glutinous rice and being wrapped in leaves, showcasing a different texture and flavor profile.

Word Family of 粽

Words Containing This Character2
粽子zòngziglutinous rice and choice of filling wrapped in leaves and boiled
粽zòngrice dumplings wrapped in leaves
Exercise 1 of 2

Compound Meaning

What does 粽子 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 粽

Common fillings include marinated meats, red beans, or sweet ingredients like dates or nuts.

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