A floating aquatic plant, duckweed.
An apple, especially in 苹果. Grass (艹) above 平 (peace): apples growing in a peaceful meadow.
苹
Common Usage & Traps
- 苹果 — apple
- 一个苹果 — one apple
- 吃苹果 — eat an apple
- 买苹果 — buy apples
- 苹果电脑 — Apple computer / Mac
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苹苹果苹 does not stand alone in modern Mandarin. If you point at an apple and say 苹, people wait for the 果.
Can you just say 苹 for 'apple'?
No. 苹 can't stand alone; always say the full word 苹果.
苹 is not a standalone word. It only works inside 苹果. If you point at an apple and say 苹, it sounds like saying 'cran' when you mean 'cranberry'. Always say 苹果.
| Dimension | Natural | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Ordering fruit | 我要买苹果。 | 我要买苹。 |
| Pointing at one | 这个苹果很大。 | 这个苹很大。 |
| Saying what it is | 这是苹果。 | 这是苹。 |
How do Chinese speakers tell 'apple' from the Apple brand?
Because 苹果 alone means the fruit. Add 电脑 to make the brand clear.
苹果 is the same word for the fruit and the brand. Context or a product word does the disambiguation. 吃苹果 means eat an apple; 苹果电脑 means Apple computer. If you just say 我买了苹果, people picture fruit, not a Mac.
| Dimension | Natural | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Buying a computer | 我买了苹果电脑。 | 我买了苹果。(people hear fruit) |
| Buying fruit | 我买了苹果。 | 我买了苹果电脑。 |
| Talking about products | 苹果电脑很好。 | 苹果很好。(ambiguous) |
Appears in Stories 9 stories
This short, simple story follows a shopper's trip to the supermarket to buy apples. You'll learn useful vocabulary for shopping, prices, and comparing things.
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我看见超市有大 苹果 ，也有小 苹果 。
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大 苹果 很便宜，小 苹果 很贵。
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我问超市的人小 苹果 怎么样？
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她们说小 苹果 非常好吃。
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我买了三个小 苹果 ，两个大 苹果 。
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大 苹果 是中国的，小 苹果 不是中国的。
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我问超市的人那两个 苹果 是哪里的？
This humorous dialogue follows a man who spends all his savings on his girlfriend's Apple phone and a lucky number, leaving him broke. A fun read for HSK 3 learners.
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我给女朋友买了一个 苹果 ，现在没钱了。
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A：买 苹果 ？
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一个 苹果 能有多贵？
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B：当然不是吃的 苹果 ，是 苹果 手机！
Read this short story about people waiting in the rain for a new phone. You will practice numbers, time, and everyday vocabulary.
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晚上，我坐出租车去大学那边的 苹果商店 买手机。
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苹果 商店外边人很多，一半儿是北京大学的大学生。
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明天 苹果十九 出来了，大家都想做第一个买到 苹果十九 的人。
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苹果十九 很贵，八千七百多块钱。
In this easy story, you will follow a simple trip to the supermarket to buy apples. Practice numbers, question words, and nationalities in a real-life shopping context.
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我买了六个 苹果 。
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三个 苹果 是中国的，三个 苹果 不是中国的。
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我问超市的人那三个 苹果 是哪里的？
Enjoy this simple story about a patient and a mysterious apple. It shows how a small act of kindness can make someone feel at home, and you'll learn key words for feelings and daily life.
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天天下午，桌子上都会多出一个很大的 苹果 。
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谢医生对马家友说：“ 苹果 不是医院给的。
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马家友吃了手里的 苹果 ，觉得这个 苹果 真好吃！
Shopping for fruit is a common daily task in China. Practice saying prices, counting items, and using simple shopping phrases while buying five apples for three yuan.
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今天我买了五个 苹果 。
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这五个 苹果 都是中国 苹果 。
This short story follows a simple shopping trip in Beijing. You will learn words for buying a phone in Chinese.
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这是一个 苹果手机 。
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这是 苹果 十五。
Learn the fascinating story behind the Chinese idiom '东山再起' (Dongshan Zaiji), which means to make a comeback. Discover its historical roots and modern usage.
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当年乔布斯被踢出 苹果 公司，十年后，他又重回 苹果 ，这件事也可以说“乔布斯东山再起了。”
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.
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苹果 是水果。
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