Question 1

What does 香蕉 mean in Chinese?

Accepted Answer

香蕉 (xiāngjiāo) is the noun 'banana,' the long yellow fruit. The word is built from 香 (fragrant) + 蕉 (a type of broad-leafed plant), literally 'fragrant 蕉.' Three things to know. First, the measure word matters: one banana is 一根香蕉 (yì gēn xiāngjiāo) — 根 is the measure word for long thin things.

A whole bunch is 一串香蕉 (yí chuàn) or 一把香蕉 (yì bǎ). Using 个 is colloquially fine but less precise. Second, 香蕉 is one of the most common fruits in Chinese supermarkets — almost everyone learns it early. Third, in modern Chinese slang, 香蕉人 (xiāngjiāo rén, 'banana person') refers to overseas-born ethnic Chinese — 'yellow on the outside, white on the inside' — a term that can be neutral or pejorative depending on context.

Question 2

How do you pronounce 香蕉?

Accepted Answer

香蕉 is pronounced xiāngjiāo — 香 (xiāng), 蕉 (jiāo).

Question 3

Is 香蕉 a noun, verb, or something else?

Accepted Answer

香蕉 is a noun, register: neutral.

Question 4

What is the measure word for 香蕉?

Accepted Answer

Use 根 (gēn). Example: 一根香蕉 — a single banana (most common). Other measure words: 串 (chuàn), 把 (bǎ), 个 (gè).

Question 5

What's the difference between 香蕉 and 香?

Accepted Answer

香 alone means 'fragrant / sweet-smelling.' It's part of 香蕉 but on its own does not mean banana. 这个花很香 = 'this flower smells sweet.'

Question 6

What's the difference between 香蕉 and 蕉?

Accepted Answer

蕉 alone is not a standalone word in modern Chinese. It only appears in compounds like 香蕉 (banana) or 芭蕉 (bājiāo, plantain). Don't use it by itself.

香蕉

What does 香蕉 mean?

Character breakdown

Measure word for 香蕉

Example sentences

Common phrases with 香蕉

Don't confuse 香蕉 with

FAQ

Hear 香蕉 in real Chinese, not in a flashcard.