糖果

• Pinyin: táng guǒ
• Hanzi breakdown: 糖 = 米 (rice) + 唐 (Tang dynasty, phonetic); 果 = 田 (field) + 木 (tree) — fruit

Meaning

Candy; sweets; confectionery. General term for sweet treats.

A broad category including hard candies, soft candies, lollipops, and other sweets. Essential at Chinese celebrations — weddings (喜糖), New Year, and children's events. Also used metaphorically for sweet things.

Examples

1. 小孩子都喜欢吃糖果，但吃太多对牙齿不好。 Children all love candy, but eating too much is bad for their teeth.
2. 婚礼上发的喜糖包装得特别精美，每颗都是心形的。 The wedding candies were packaged beautifully — each one was heart-shaped.
3. 超市糖果区的诱惑太大了，每次路过都忍不住买一包。 The candy aisle at the supermarket is too tempting — I can't help buying a pack every time I pass by.

Usage Guide

Context: food, celebrations, children

Tone: cheerful

Do Say

• 给孩子们发糖果。(Hand out candy to the children.)
• 这糖果太甜了。(This candy is too sweet.)

Don't Say

• 把巧克力都叫'糖果' (Strictly speaking, 巧克力 is its own category, though it's sometimes grouped under 糖果)

Origin & History

糖 means sugar, 果 means fruit — originally sugar-coated fruits, now any sweet candy.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal