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糯 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
nuòglutinous rice; sticky, viscousn, 20 strokes, radical 米, rank #52504, Very Hard
nuòsticky riceunknown, 20 strokes, radical 米, rank #52504, Very Hard
nuò(nuo4) T4
  1. 1glutinous rice; sticky, viscous
  2. 2sticky rice
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March 24, 2026

(稬)nuò(nuo4)

糯 (nuò) refers to glutinous rice, a type of rice that is sticky and often used in Chinese cuisine for dishes like rice dumplings and mochi. It can also describe something that is sticky or viscous in texture. This character is commonly encountered in culinary contexts, especially when discussing traditional foods.

Strokes20RadicalFrequency#52504DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note

糯米 is essential in many traditional Chinese festivals, such as the Dragon Boat Festival, where it is used to make zongzi (sticky rice dumplings wrapped in bamboo leaves. This reflects the cultural importance of food in Chinese celebrations.

Memory Tip

Imagine a bowl filled with sticky, glistening rice. The character 糯 resembles a rice grain (米) under a layer of glue (糸), emphasizing its sticky nature. Visualize the rice being used in a sweet dessert, helping you remember both the pronunciation 'nuò' and the meaning.

Meanings of 糯

nuò(nuo4)
1glutinous rice; sticky, viscous
2sticky rice
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

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About 糯

Simplified
Traditional
20Strokes
Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 糯

JasonAmy

Podcast:

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AI Study Notes for 糯

Quick Contrast

粳 (jīng) - choose 糯 when referring specifically to glutinous rice, while 粳 refers to non-sticky rice varieties.

Memory Mnemonic

Imagine a bowl filled with sticky, glistening rice. The character 糯 resembles a rice grain (米) under a layer of glue (糸), emphasizing its sticky nature. Visualize the rice being used in a sweet dessert, helping you remember both the pronunciation 'nuò' and the meaning.

Usage Notes

糯 is often used in formal culinary contexts, so it's important to use it appropriately when discussing food. A common mistake is confusing it with other types of rice; ensure you know it specifically refers to glutinous rice. Collocations include 糯米 (sticky rice) and 糯米团 (sticky rice dumpling).

HSK Study Tips

This character is not part of the official HSK vocabulary list but is useful for learners focusing on food-related terminology. Connecting it to other food terms like 米 (rice) and 饭 (meal) can enhance vocabulary retention.

Cultural Note

糯米 is essential in many traditional Chinese festivals, such as the Dragon Boat Festival, where it is used to make zongzi (sticky rice dumplings wrapped in bamboo leaves. This reflects the cultural importance of food in Chinese celebrations.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 糯 with other rice types; for example, saying '米饭' when they mean '糯米'. Ensure you specify '糯米' when referring to glutinous rice.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 糯

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Etymology of 糯

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

Phonosemantic compound. 米 represents the meaning and 需 represents the sound. Simplified form of 稬.

Memory Hint

rice

Semantic (meaning)
+
Phonetic (sound)
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters
Exercise 1 of 1

Character Formation Type

What type of character formation is 糯?

Decomposition of 糯

IDS Structure⿰米需
Full Character
=
Mi3
left
xu1
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 糯?

Write 糯

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

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Cultural Notes for 糯

🏮Cultural insight

糯米 is essential in many traditional Chinese festivals, such as the Dragon Boat Festival, where it is used to make zongzi (sticky rice dumplings wrapped in bamboo leaves. This reflects the cultural importance of food in Chinese celebrations.

🌏Cross-cultural Insight

In Western cultures, 'sticky rice' is often seen as a novelty, while in China, it is a staple ingredient in many traditional dishes, highlighting a different culinary perspective.

Word Family of 糯

Words Containing This Character4
糯米glutinous rice
nuòsticky rice
糯稻glutinous rice
糯米纸rice paper糯米紙
Exercise 1 of 4

Compound Meaning

What does 糯米 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 糯

糯米 (glutinous rice) is sticky and used for specific dishes, while 普通米 (ordinary rice) is less sticky and used in everyday meals.