The character 米 depicts a rice plant: the central vertical and horizontal lines form the stalk and branches, while the four diagonal dots represent grains of rice. This pictographic origin helps learners associate 米 with uncooked rice or grain.
In English, 'rice' can mean both raw and cooked, but in Chinese, 米 refers only to uncooked rice. For cooked rice, use 米饭.
While 吃米 is grammatically possible, it sounds unnatural because 米 is an ingredient, not a prepared dish. The common phrase for eating a meal is 吃饭.
米 means uncooked rice, while 米饭 means cooked rice.
| Dimension | Natural | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Raw rice | 米 | 米饭 |
| Cooked rice | 米饭 | 米 |
| Example | 我买米。 (I buy rice.) | 我买米饭。 (I buy cooked rice.) |
米 has a cross with four dots, while 水 has a central vertical line with flowing strokes.
| Dimension | 米 | 水 |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | rice | water |
| Shape | cross with four dots | vertical line with flowing strokes |
| Example | 米饭 (cooked rice) | 喝水 (drink water) |
Chat about where friends study Chinese while exploring 哪儿 and 哪里 across Beijing and Shanghai. Practice asking “where”, talking about “here” and “there”, and using the modest reply 哪里哪里 to accept a compliment.
小米 ：哪里！
小米 ：对。
小米 ：真的。
小米 ：你呢？
小米 ：你们知道吗？
小米 ：北京人喜欢说“这儿”和“那儿”。
小米 ：也说。
大山： 小米 ，你的汉语真好。
小米 ：😄哈哈！
小米 ：😄哈哈！
Join a beginner as they ask a Chinese friend to teach them how to cook. This simple HSK 1 dialogue shows that learning one dish at a time is the best way to start.
我的好朋友 小米 是中国人。
小米 问我，我想学做什么菜。
小米 说，我再问你一个问题，你现在会做什么菜呢？
小米 说：“这没问题，你可以一个一个学习。”
Meet Dr. Mi, a doctor and teacher at Sichuan University. This simple HSK 1 story shows his daily routine from morning to night, helping you learn time expressions and everyday activities.
他是我的同学 米中家 的爸爸，今年五十五岁。
米爸爸 在四川大学医学院工作。
米中家 妈妈说：“这不是‘ 米老师 的一天’，这是‘ 米老师 的天天’”。
In this HSK 1 story, two old friends from Britain and China share a meal with their girlfriends. A simple question about who pays leads to a clever and funny solution.
我叫 米小山 。
中国一半、英国一半，饭钱我和 米小山 一人一半。”
Think instant noodles are unhealthy? This HSK 6 article challenges common myths and reveals surprising facts about nutrition, oil, and salt in this convenient food.
这样看来，方便面所含的营养成分甚至还高于中国人最爱的馒头、 米饭 、面包之类的主食。
Before you read, think about names: a train is called 'fire vehicle' in Chinese, but there's no fire! This simple rhyme will help you laugh while reviewing everyday words.
米饭 不是 米 ，鸡蛋不是蛋，牛奶不是奶。
Welcome! This short poem helps you practice the months, weekdays, and mealtimes in Chinese. Read it aloud and notice the rhythm. You already know many of these words!
星期日和天，日日和爱人，超市买 菜米 ，回家做饭忙。
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