How to Say Rice in Chinese
米饭
mǐfàn
米饭 (mǐfàn) means cooked rice; uncooked rice is 大米 (dàmǐ).
Pronunciation and tones
Mǐ has a third tone, usually low before the falling fourth tone of fàn. Dàmǐ has a fourth tone followed by a third tone.
Two everyday examples
我想吃米饭。
Wǒ xiǎng chī mǐfàn.
I want to eat rice.
我们需要买大米。
Wǒmen xūyào mǎi dàmǐ.
We need to buy uncooked rice.
Usage and common mistakes
Cooked rice versus uncooked rice
Use 米饭 (mǐfàn) for cooked rice served as food. Use 大米 (dàmǐ) for uncooked rice grains, such as a bag bought at a shop.
饭 also means a meal
吃饭 (chī fàn) often means to eat a meal, even if no rice is served. Use 米饭 when you specifically mean cooked rice.
Frequently asked questions
How do you say rice in Chinese?
Cooked rice is 米饭 (mǐfàn). Uncooked rice is 大米 (dàmǐ).
How do you order a bowl of rice?
Say 一碗米饭 (yì wǎn mǐfàn), meaning a bowl of cooked rice.
Does 吃饭 always mean eating rice?
No. 吃饭 (chī fàn) commonly means eating a meal, not necessarily rice.