miàn bāo
bread
我喜欢吃面包。
wǒ xǐhuān chī miànbāo.
I like to eat bread.
面包很好吃。
miànbāo hěn hǎochī.
The bread is delicious.
面包店在哪里？
miànbāodiàn zài nǎlǐ?
Where is the bakery?
面包片 (miànbāopiàn)
bread slice
面包块 (miànbāokuài)
bread cube
面包屑 (miànbāoxuè)
bread crumbs
馒头 (mántou)
steamed bun
米饭 (mǐfàn)
rice
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The Chinese word 面包 (miànbāo) for "bread" is a compound of two characters: 面 (miàn) and 包 (bāo). The character 面 (miàn) originally meant "flour" or "wheat", and it is still used in this sense today. The character 包 (bāo) originally meant "to wrap" or "to enclose", and it is still used in this sense today. The word 面包 (miànbāo) literally means "flour wrap", which is a fitting description for bread.The word 面包 (miànbāo) is thought to have originated in the 16th century, when Portuguese traders introduced bread to China. The Portuguese word for bread is pão, which is pronounced very similarly to the Chinese word 面包 (miànbāo). It is likely that the Chinese word 面包 (miànbāo) was borrowed from the Portuguese word pão.The word 面包 (miànbāo) is now used throughout China to refer to bread. It is a common breakfast food, and it is also used in sandwiches and other dishes.
