大米

• Pinyin: dà mǐ
• Hanzi breakdown: 大 = person with spread arms; 米 = pictograph of rice grains on a stalk

Meaning

Rice (uncooked). Husked rice grains used as a staple food.

Refers specifically to raw, uncooked rice grains that have been husked (as opposed to 稻子 which is unhusked rice plants). A staple food in Chinese cuisine. Distinguished from 米饭 which is cooked rice.

Examples

1. 东北大米颗粒饱满，煮出来特别香。 Northeast rice grains are plump and full — especially fragrant when cooked.
2. 家里大米快吃完了，记得去超市买一袋。 We're almost out of rice at home — remember to buy a bag at the supermarket.
3. 这种大米价格虽然贵，但口感特别好。 This type of rice is expensive, but the taste is especially good.

Usage Guide

Context: food, everyday

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 今年大米涨价了。(The price of rice has gone up this year.)
• 泰国大米很有名。(Thai rice is very famous.)

Don't Say

• 大米是生的，煮熟了叫米饭，不要混用 (大米 is raw rice, 米饭 is cooked rice — don't confuse them)

Origin & History

Combines 大 (big/major) with 米 (rice). 大米 specifically refers to the main rice variety consumed, as opposed to other grains.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal