南京小笼包
nán jīng xiǎo lóng bāo
Nanjing dumpling · trad. 南京小籠包
南京小笼包 (Nánjīng xiǎolóngbāo) refers to the famous soup dumplings from Nanjing, China. These delicate, steamed dumplings are typically filled with savory pork and a rich, hot broth, making them a beloved local specialty.
When to use it
This is a neutral term for a specific food item. When ordering, you might simply say "来一份小笼包" (lái yī fèn xiǎolóngbāo, "one order of soup dumplings"). If you want to specify from Nanjing, you'd add 南京.
How to pronounce it
南京 (Nánjīng) sounds like “nan-JING” (rising tone on 南, high-level on 京). 小笼包 (xiǎolóngbāo) sounds like “shyao-LONG-bow” (third tone on 小, rising tone on 笼, high-level on 包).
Other ways to say it
- 南京汤包nán jīng tāng bāoNanjing soup dumplings (another common term)
- 小笼包xiǎo lóng bāosoup dumplings (general term)
- 汤包tāng bāosoup dumplings (general term, literally 'soup bun')
Examples
来南京一定要尝尝南京小笼包。
lái nán jīng yí dìng yào cháng cháng nán jīng xiǎo lóng bāo 。
When you come to Nanjing, you must try Nanjing soup dumplings.
我喜欢吃皮薄馅大的南京小笼包。
wǒ xǐ huan chī pí báo xiàn dà de nán jīng xiǎo lóng bāo 。
I like to eat Nanjing soup dumplings with thin skin and generous filling.
这家店的南京小笼包味道很好。
zhè jiā diàn de nán jīng xiǎo lóng bāo wèi dào hěn hǎo 。
The Nanjing soup dumplings at this restaurant taste very good.
Pro tip: Nanjing soup dumplings are famous for their delicious hot broth inside. It's common to take a small bite, slurp the soup, then eat the rest of the dumpling. Be careful not to burn your mouth!
Related phrases
龙 · Dragon饺子 · Dumpling金龙 · Gold dragon
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