A round ceramic or stone vessel for holding food.
A bowl; also a measure word for a bowlful of anything. Stone radical (石) plus 宛 (curved) — a hollow, rounded stone bowl.
碗
Common Usage & Traps
- 饭碗 — rice bowl; (figuratively) job, livelihood
- 一碗饭 — a bowl of rice
- 洗碗 — to wash dishes
- 茶碗 — teacup; tea bowl
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一个碗饭一碗饭碗 itself is the measure word for a bowl of food; stacking 个 before it is wrong.
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碗子碗碗 is already a noun. Adding 子 is not standard for this word.
What is the difference between 碗 and 晚?
碗 is a bowl (stone radical 石); 晚 is late/evening (sun radical 日). Same sound, different object.
Both are pronounced wǎn, so learners mix them up in writing. The radical decides the meaning: 碗 is a physical container, so it takes 石 (stone). 晚 relates to time of day, so it takes 日 (sun). If you see 石, think bowl. If you see 日, think evening.
| Dimension | 碗 | 晚 |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | bowl | late; evening |
| Radical | 石 (stone) | 日 (sun) |
| Example | 一碗饭 (a bowl of rice) | 晚上 (evening) |
Can 碗 be used as a measure word?
Yes. 碗 is both a noun and a measure word. 一碗饭 is correct; 一个碗饭 is not.
When 碗 counts food or drink served in a bowl, it goes directly after the number: 一碗饭, 两碗茶. Do not insert 个 before it. When 碗 is just the physical object, you can use 个: 这个碗很大. The measure-word use and the noun use are separate patterns.
| Dimension | Natural | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Measure word usage | 一碗饭 | 一个碗饭 |
| Noun usage | 这个碗很大 | 这个碗子很大 |
Appears in Stories 2 stories
Why would a millionaire leave a table of lobster and wagyu untouched? This story explores the hidden rules of business dining and the true cost of staying alert.
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整桌的龙虾、和牛，他一点儿没有碰，全程只动了三次筷子：一筷子鱼，一根青菜， 半碗 汤。
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说这句话的时候，他筷子搁在 碗上 。
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碗里 的汤还剩半 碗 ，已经凉了。
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可直到散席，那 碗 汤也没再碰过。
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到家了我就让保姆煮 一碗 清汤面，打两个蛋。
Ever wondered where old Beijing's tea-drinking culture has gone? Follow a visitor discovering why locals now avoid famous tea houses—and practice expressing surprise and comparisons in Chinese along the way.
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前天有个朋友告诉我，要想了解老北京的文化，应该去老茶馆喝一次" 大碗儿茶 "。
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