ENGLISH
REFERENCE

bao

n. C / U
B1 Intermediate US //ˈbaʊ// bao

n. a type of soft, white Chinese bun that is cooked with steam. It usually has a tasty filling inside, like meat or vegetables.

n. a steamed, leavened bun common in Chinese cuisine, typically filled with meat or vegetable preparations. Often refers specifically to the closed, round variety (baozi) or the open, folded style (gua bao).


SIMPLE

I ordered a pork bao for lunch.

CONTEXTUAL

The street food stall is famous for its fluffy bao filled with spicy mushrooms and ginger.

COMPLEX

While traditional bao are steamed in bamboo baskets to achieve their signature pillowy texture, modern fusion restaurants often experiment with unconventional fillings like wagyu beef or chocolate.

Usage

Usually countable when referring to individual buns; can be uncountable when referring to the dish in general.

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