馒头 mántou steamed bun
How to remember 馒头: 馒 steamed buns + 头 head = steamed bun.
Characters
How it is used
- A plain steamed wheat bun with no filling - unlike 包子 (bāozi), which is stuffed with meat or vegetables.
- A staple of northern Chinese meals, often eaten instead of rice.
- Takes the measure word 个: 一个馒头 (yí ge mántou) - one steamed bun.
- Don't confuse it with 包子 (has filling) or 花卷 (huājuǎn, the twisted layered version).