Meaning
Tangyuan are small round dumplings made from glutinous rice flour, typically filled with sweet paste (like sesame, peanut, or red bean) and served in hot sweet soup. They are a traditional food eaten during the Lantern Festival and Winter Solstice, symbolizing family unity and togetherness because of their round shape.
Usage
Tangyuan is strongly associated with festivals, especially the Lantern Festival (元宵节) and Winter Solstice (冬至). When eaten during the Lantern Festival, they may also be called 元宵 (yuán xiāo), though there are slight regional differences. The round shape symbolizes reunion (团圆), making them popular during family gatherings.
Examples
- 01元宵节那天，全家人一起吃汤圆。, .On Lantern Festival day, the whole family eats tangyuan together.
- 02这家店的黑芝麻汤圆特别好吃。.This shop's black sesame tangyuan is especially delicious.
Characters
Measure words
- 个一个汤圆
- 碗一碗汤圆
- 颗三颗汤圆
Common collocations
- 吃汤圆to eat tangyuan
- 煮汤圆to cook/boil tangyuan
- 芝麻汤圆sesame-filled tangyuan
- 一碗汤圆a bowl of tangyuan
Origin
The name literally means 'soup rounds,' describing both the shape and how they are served. The round shape (圆) is a deliberate symbol of completeness and family reunion (团圆 tuán yuán), making the food's name a play on this auspicious meaning.