Chinese Character: 馒
1. Character Basics
Radical: 饣 (shí) - Food radical (simplified form of 食)
Stroke Count: 14 strokes
Stroke Order:
2. Pronunciation
Pinyin: Mán (Second tone)
3. Meaning
Basic Meaning: Steamed bun (a type of Chinese bread made from wheat flour)
4. Common Words
- 馒头 (mán tou) - Steamed bun
- 肉馒头 (ròu mán tou) - Steamed bun with meat filling
- 包子馒头 (bāo zi mán tou) - Steamed stuffed buns and plain steamed buns
5. Grammar & Usage
"馒" is most commonly used in the compound word "馒头" (mán tou) to refer to steamed buns. It is not typically used alone in modern Chinese.
6. Cultural Background
Steamed buns (馒头) have been a staple food in Chinese cuisine for thousands of years. They are often eaten for breakfast or as a side dish with meals. In some regions, steamed buns are also used in traditional festivals and ceremonies.
7. Example Sentence
中文: 我每天早上吃两个馒头。
Pinyin: Wǒ měi tiān zǎo shang chī liǎng gè mán tou.
English: I eat two steamed buns every morning.
8. Memory Tips
The left side of "馒" is the food radical "饣" (食), indicating that it's related to food. The right side "曼" (màn) serves as a phonetic component. You can remember it as "a type of food that is soft and fluffy" to represent steamed buns.