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蛋糕 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
蛋糕dàngāocakeHSK 3, n, 27 strokes, rank #1409, Medium
dàngāo(dan4gao1)dan gao T4
  1. 1cake
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March 24, 2026

蛋糕dàngāo(dan4gao1)

蛋糕 (dàngāo) refers to a cake, a popular dessert often made from flour, sugar, and other ingredients. It is commonly served at celebrations such as birthdays and weddings, and can come in various flavors and styles. The word is used in both formal and informal contexts when discussing food or dessert.

Strokes27Frequency#1409DifficultyMedium
Cultural note

In Chinese culture, cakes are often associated with Western-style celebrations, especially as they become more popular in cities. The tradition of eating cake on birthdays has become a staple in many households, reflecting the blend of Western and Chinese customs.

Memory tip

Imagine a big round cake (蛋糕) that looks like a sunny egg (蛋) on top. The '蛋' (dàn) sounds like 'dan' in 'dance' while the '糕' (gāo) can be imagined as a tall tower of cakes, which is something to celebrate and enjoy. Visualize yourself dancing around this cake at a party!

Meanings of 蛋糕

dàngāo(dan4gao1)
1cake
Exercise 1 of 2

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About 蛋糕

蛋糕Simplified
27Strokes
—Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#1409Frequency Rank
块Measure Word
HSK 2.0L3HSK 3.0L3IntermediateTOCFLL5HSKKL3CEFRB2

Podcast: 蛋糕

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Podcast: 蛋糕

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AI study notes for 蛋糕

Quick Contrast

饼 (bǐng) vs 蛋糕 (dàngāo): Use 蛋糕 for sweet, layered desserts typically served at celebrations, while 饼 refers to flatbreads or savory pastries.

Usage Notes

Be careful with the tone pronunciation: 蛋 (dàn) has a falling tone while 糕 (gāo) has a high level tone. Common collocations include 生日蛋糕 (birthday cake) and 巧克力蛋糕 (chocolate cake). In more casual settings, you might hear it used in expressions like 吃蛋糕 (eat cake).

HSK Study Tips

As part of HSK Level 3, students should focus on recognizing and using 蛋糕 in everyday conversations related to food and celebrations. It connects well with other food-related vocabulary at this level, such as 水果 (fruit) and 饭 (rice).

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 蛋糕 with other dessert terms. For example, saying '饼' (bǐng) instead of 蛋糕 to refer to cake is incorrect, as 饼 usually refers to pancakes or flatbreads. Always remember to use 蛋糕 when talking about cakes.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 蛋糕

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Component characters

蛋dànegg
HSK 211 strokes虫
View full entry
糕gāocake
16 strokes米
View full entry

How to say cake in Chinese

“cake” in Chinese is蛋糕dàngāo

蛋糕 (dàngāo) refers to a cake, a popular dessert often made from flour, sugar, and other ingredients. It is commonly served at celebrations such as birthdays and weddings, and can come in various flavors and styles. The word is used in both formal and informal contexts when discussing food or dessert.

When to use 蛋糕

Be careful with the tone pronunciation: 蛋 (dàn) has a falling tone while 糕 (gāo) has a high level tone. Common collocations include 生日蛋糕 (birthday cake) and 巧克力蛋糕 (chocolate cake). In more casual settings, you might hear it used in expressions like 吃蛋糕 (eat cake).

蛋糕 or something close to it

饼 (bǐng) vs 蛋糕 (dàngāo): Use 蛋糕 for sweet, layered desserts typically served at celebrations, while 饼 refers to flatbreads or savory pastries.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 蛋糕 with other dessert terms. For example, saying '饼' (bǐng) instead of 蛋糕 to refer to cake is incorrect, as 饼 usually refers to pancakes or flatbreads. Always remember to use 蛋糕 when talking about cakes.

Write 蛋糕

蛋
糕

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

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Grammar patterns of 蛋糕

蛋糕 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). The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.

Exercise 1 of 4

Fill the gap

Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.

这个____好吃啊!

This cake is so delicious!

Example sentences for 蛋糕 (12)

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1
蛋糕一烤好就从炉子里取出来。

dàngāo yī kǎo hǎo jiù cóng lúzi lǐ qǔ chūlái。

As soon as the cake is done, remove it from the oven.
2
蛋糕应该是好的——我用了最好的配料.

dàngāo yīnggāi shì hǎode—— wǒ yòng le zuìhǎo de pèi liào.

The cake ought to be good — I used the best ingredients.
3
我想在我的结婚蛋糕上装饰一些丘比特的造型。

wǒ xiǎng zài wǒ de jiéhūn dàngāo shàng zhuāngshì yìxiē Qiū bǐtè de zàoxíng。

I would like my wedding cake decorated with cupids.
4
来点巧克力蛋糕怎么样?

lái diǎn qiǎokèlì dàngāo zěnmeyàng?

Would you like some chocolate cake?
5
“再来点蛋糕?”——“哦不,不用了。”

“ zài lái diǎn dàngāo?”——“ é bù, búyòng le。”

"More cake?" — "Oh no, I couldn't."
6
她把糖霜浇在蛋糕上面,并用刀子轻轻涂抹开。

tā bǎ táng shuāng jiāo zài dàngāo shàngmiàn, bìng yòng dāo zi qīng qīng túmǒ kāi。

She spread the icing over the cake, dabbing it with a knife.
7
他们开着玩笑,喝着咖啡,尽情地吃着巧克力蛋糕。

tāmen kāi zhe wán xiào, hē zhe kāfēi, jìnqíng dì chī zhe qiǎokèlì dàngāo。

They joked and drank coffee and filled themselves with chocolate cake.
8
谁摸这块蛋糕了?

shéi mō zhè kuài dàngāo le?

Who's been pawing this cake about?
9
他们分吃了那块蛋糕.

tāmen fēn chī le nà kuài dàngāo.

They shared the cake between them.
10
把蛋糕分成四份,大家平均享用.

bǎ dàngāo fēnchéng sì fèn, dàjiā píngjūn xiǎngyòng.

Divide the cake into quarters and share it equally.
11
今天是我的生日,我买了一个草莓蛋糕。

Jīntiān shì wǒ de shēngrì, wǒ mǎi le yī gè cǎoméi dàngāo.

Today is my birthday, and I bought a strawberry cake.
12
今天是我的生日,我买了一个草莓蛋糕。

Jīntiān shì wǒ de shēngrì, wǒ mǎi le yī gè cǎoméi dàngāo.

Today is my birthday, and I bought a strawberry cake.

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Cultural Notes for 蛋糕

🌏Cross-cultural Insight

In Western cultures, cake is often a central element of many celebrations, while in China, traditional desserts may take precedence, with cake being a more recent addition to festivities.

Frequently asked questions about 蛋糕

The most popular cakes in China include fruit cakes, chocolate cakes, and mousse cakes, often decorated elaborately for celebrations.

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