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砂糖 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
砂糖shātánggranulated sugarHSK 7, unknown, 25 strokes, rank #33173, Very Hard
shātáng(sha1tang2)sha tang T1
  1. 1granulated sugar
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March 24, 2026

砂糖shātáng(sha1tang2)

砂糖 refers to granulated sugar, a common sweetener used in cooking and baking. It is often used to enhance the flavor of dishes and beverages, and is a staple ingredient in many cuisines, including Chinese cuisine.

Strokes25Frequency#33173DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note

In Chinese culture, sugar is often used not only to sweeten foods but also as an essential component in traditional desserts like 糖葫芦 (táng húlu), which are candied fruits. This reflects a broader appreciation for the balance of flavors in Chinese cooking.

Memory tip

Think of the character 砂 (sha) as resembling small grains of sand, which relates to the texture of granulated sugar. The second character 糖 (tang) can remind you of the sweetness of candy, as it is used in words for sweets and desserts. Imagine a pile of sweet sand to remember both the texture and taste.

Meanings of 砂糖

shātáng(sha1tang2)
1granulated sugar
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About 砂糖

砂糖Simplified
25Strokes
—Radical
#—Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7AdvancedCEFRC2

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Podcast: 砂糖

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AI study notes for 砂糖

Quick Contrast

糖 (táng) - use 砂糖 (shātáng) specifically for granulated sugar, while 糖 (táng) can refer to sugar in general.

Usage Notes

砂糖 is typically used in both formal and informal contexts when referring to sugar in recipes or discussions about cooking. A common mistake is to confuse it with other types of sugar like 细砂糖 (xì shā táng, fine sugar) or brown sugar, which have different uses.

HSK Study Tips

While 砂糖 is not an HSK vocabulary word, it connects with other food-related terms. Students should focus on recognizing how it fits into recipes and discussions about cooking, as food vocabulary is often practical for daily conversation.

Common Mistakes

Learners often mistakenly use 砂糖 to refer to sugar in general without specifying the type. For example, saying '我需要砂糖' (Wǒ xūyào shātáng, 'I need sugar') when they actually mean brown sugar, which should be 糖 instead.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 砂糖

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Component characters

砂shāsand, pebbles, gravel; gritty
9 strokes石
View full entry
糖tángsugar
HSK 316 strokes米
View full entry

How to say granulated sugar in Chinese

“granulated sugar” in Chinese is砂糖shātáng

砂糖 refers to granulated sugar, a common sweetener used in cooking and baking. It is often used to enhance the flavor of dishes and beverages, and is a staple ingredient in many cuisines, including Chinese cuisine.

When to use 砂糖

砂糖 is typically used in both formal and informal contexts when referring to sugar in recipes or discussions about cooking. A common mistake is to confuse it with other types of sugar like 细砂糖 (xì shā táng, fine sugar) or brown sugar, which have different uses.

砂糖 or something close to it

糖 (táng) - use 砂糖 (shātáng) specifically for granulated sugar, while 糖 (táng) can refer to sugar in general.

What learners get wrong

Learners often mistakenly use 砂糖 to refer to sugar in general without specifying the type. For example, saying '我需要砂糖' (Wǒ xūyào shātáng, 'I need sugar') when they actually mean brown sugar, which should be 糖 instead.

Write 砂糖

砂
糖

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Frequently asked questions about 砂糖

砂糖 is granulated sugar, while 细砂糖 refers to finer granulated sugar, often used in baking.

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