粥

• Pinyin: zhōu
• Hanzi breakdown: 粥 = 米 (rice) + 弓弓 (phonetic elements), indicating a rice-based food

Meaning

Porridge; congee; a rice-based soup that is boiled until thick and soft.

A staple of Chinese cuisine, especially for breakfast or when someone is ill. Can be made plain or with various ingredients like meat, vegetables, preserved eggs, or seafood. Associated with comfort, healing, and simple living.

Examples

1. 生病的时候喝一碗热粥，身体会舒服很多。 When you're sick, drinking a bowl of hot porridge will make you feel much better.
2. 广东早茶里的皮蛋瘦肉粥是我的最爱。 Century egg and lean pork congee from Cantonese dim sum is my favorite.
3. 妈妈每天早起给全家人熬一锅小米粥。 Mom gets up early every day to cook a pot of millet porridge for the whole family.

Usage Guide

Context: food, daily life, health

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 今天早饭我们喝粥吧。(Let's have porridge for breakfast today.)
• 这粥熬得又稠又香。(This porridge is cooked thick and fragrant.)

Don't Say

• 我吃粥。(Not wrong, but 喝粥 is more natural since congee is liquid-like)

Origin & History

An ancient character appearing in oracle bone script. The original form depicted grains being cooked in water until soft.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal