bīngqílín: 冰淇淋 - Ice Cream

• Keywords: bingqilin, 冰淇淋, Chinese for ice cream, how to say ice cream in Chinese, bīngqílín meaning, ice cream in China, Chinese desserts, ordering ice cream in Chinese, HSK 3 vocabulary, 冰棒, 雪糕
• Summary: Learn how to say and use the Chinese word for 'ice cream', 冰淇淋 (bīngqílín). This complete guide covers its meaning, character breakdown, cultural significance, and provides practical example sentences for ordering your favorite flavors in China. Discover related terms for other frozen treats like popsicles (冰棒, bīngbàng) and explore the unique ice cream culture in modern China, from classic red bean to trendy new creations.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): bīngqílín (bīng qí lín)
• Part of Speech: Noun
• HSK Level: HSK 3
• Concise Definition: A sweet, frozen dessert made from milk or cream; ice cream.
• In a Nutshell: 冰淇淋 (bīngqílín) is the direct and universal word for 'ice cream' in Mandarin Chinese. It's a loanword, phonetically approximating the English term. You will hear and see this word everywhere in China, from street-side stalls and convenience stores to high-end dessert shops. It refers to the same creamy, frozen treat that is loved worldwide.

• 冰 (bīng): This character means “ice” or “frozen”. Its radical `冫` is known as the “ice radical” and is present in many words related to coldness, like `冰箱 (bīngxiāng)` - refrigerator.
• 淇 (qí): Originally the name of a river, this character is used here purely for its sound to imitate the “-crea” part of the English word “cream”.
• 淋 (lín): This character's original meaning is “to pour” or “to drench.” Like the character before it, it is used here phonetically to approximate the “-m” sound at the end of “cream”.

Together, the characters create a phono-semantic compound: 冰 (bīng) provides the meaning (“ice”), while 淇淋 (qílín) provides the sound (“cream”).

While ice cream is a global food, its place in China has some unique cultural flavor. Ice Cream as a Modern Indulgence: Unlike traditional Chinese desserts like red bean soup (红豆汤, hóngdòutāng) or sweet dumplings (汤圆, tāngyuán), 冰淇淋 is a relatively modern import. It gained widespread popularity with the opening up of China and is often associated with Western culture, summer fun, and modern city life. East Meets West in Flavors: This is where Chinese ice cream culture truly shines. Alongside global standards like chocolate and vanilla, you'll find a huge variety of flavors unique to East Asia. Popular local flavors include:

• Red Bean (红豆, hóngdòu)
• Black Sesame (黑芝麻, hēi zhīma)
• Taro (芋头, yùtou)
• Matcha (抹茶, mǒchá)
• Durian (榴莲, liúlián)
• Salted Egg Yolk (咸蛋黄, xián dànhuáng) - a trendy, modern creation!

Comparison to 刨冰 (bàobīng): It's useful to compare 冰淇淋 to a more traditional East Asian cold dessert: 刨冰 (bàobīng), or shaved ice. While 冰淇淋 is creamy and milk-based, 刨冰 is made of finely shaved ice topped with syrups, fresh fruit, beans, and condensed milk. 冰淇淋 represents a globalized, modern treat, whereas 刨冰 has deeper, more traditional roots in the region's culinary history.

冰淇淋 is a straightforward, everyday word used in informal and neutral contexts.

• Ordering at a Shop: It's the standard term you'll see on menus and use to order. You typically specify the flavor using the structure: `[Flavor] + 味 (wèi) + 的 (de) + 冰淇淋`. For example, “草莓味的冰淇淋” (cǎoméi wèi de bīngqílín) - strawberry-flavored ice cream.
• Social Settings: Getting ice cream is a common social activity for friends, couples on a date, or families with children, just as it is in the West. The rise of “网红” (wǎnghóng - internet famous) dessert shops has made photogenic ice cream a popular social media post.
• Types: While 冰淇淋 is the general term, you might encounter more specific words. A cone is often called a 甜筒 (tiántǒng), and a cup is a 杯 (bēi).

• Example 1:
  • 天气太热了，我们去买冰淇淋吃吧！
  • Pinyin: Tiānqì tài rè le, wǒmen qù mǎi bīngqílín chī ba!
  • English: The weather is too hot, let's go buy some ice cream to eat!
  • Analysis: A classic, common proposal on a hot day.
• Example 2:
  • 你最喜欢什么口味的冰淇淋？
  • Pinyin: Nǐ zuì xǐhuān shénme kǒuwèi de bīngqílín?
  • English: What's your favorite flavor of ice cream?
  • Analysis: A great conversational question to ask a friend. `口味 (kǒuwèi)` means flavor.
• Example 3:
  • 我想点一个抹茶味的冰淇淋。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ xiǎng diǎn yí ge mǒchá wèi de bīngqílín.
  • English: I'd like to order a matcha-flavored ice cream.
  • Analysis: A standard and polite way to order. `点 (diǎn)` means “to order”.
• Example 4:
  • 对不起，我们店的香草冰淇淋卖完了。
  • Pinyin: Duìbuqǐ, wǒmen diàn de xiāngcǎo bīngqílín mài wán le.
  • English: Sorry, our shop's vanilla ice cream is sold out.
  • Analysis: A practical sentence you might hear from a shopkeeper. `卖完 (mài wán)` means “sold out”.
• Example 5:
  • 妈妈，你看，我的冰淇淋要融化了！
  • Pinyin: Māma, nǐ kàn, wǒ de bīngqílín yào rónghuà le!
  • English: Mom, look, my ice cream is about to melt!
  • Analysis: Shows the use of the verb `融化 (rónghuà)`, to melt.
• Example 6:
  • 这家网红店的冰淇淋造型很特别。
  • Pinyin: Zhè jiā wǎnghóng diàn de bīngqílín zàoxíng hěn tèbié.
  • English: The shape of the ice cream from this internet-famous shop is very unique.
  • Analysis: This sentence reflects modern culture, referencing `网红 (wǎnghóng)` shops. `造型 (zàoxíng)` means shape or design.
• Example 7:
  • 虽然是冬天，但我还是想吃冰淇淋。
  • Pinyin: Suīrán shì dōngtiān, dàn wǒ háishì xiǎng chī bīngqílín.
  • English: Even though it's winter, I still want to eat ice cream.
  • Analysis: Demonstrates the use of the `虽然…但是… (suīrán…dànshì…)` structure, meaning “although…but…”.
• Example 8:
  • 请问，一个冰淇淋球多少钱？
  • Pinyin: Qǐngwèn, yí ge bīngqílín qiú duōshǎo qián?
  • English: Excuse me, how much is one scoop of ice cream?
  • Analysis: `球 (qiú)` is the measure word for a scoop.
• Example 9:
  • 他不小心把冰淇淋掉在了地上。
  • Pinyin: Tā bù xiǎoxīn bǎ bīngqílín diào zài le dì shàng.
  • English: He accidentally dropped the ice cream on the floor.
  • Analysis: Uses the `把 (bǎ)` structure to show disposal of an object.
• Example 10:
  • 这款咸蛋黄冰淇淋的味道又咸又甜，很有意思。
  • Pinyin: Zhè kuǎn xián dànhuáng bīngqílín de wèidào yòu xián yòu tián, hěn yǒu yìsi.
  • English: This salted egg yolk ice cream's flavor is both salty and sweet, very interesting.
  • Analysis: Highlights a unique Chinese flavor and uses the `又…又… (yòu…yòu…)` structure for “both…and…”.

The biggest point of confusion for learners is distinguishing 冰淇淋 from other similar frozen treats.

• 冰淇淋 (bīngqílín) vs. 冰棒 (bīngbàng): This is the most critical distinction.
  • 冰淇淋 (bīngqílín) is creamy, soft, milk-based ice cream, typically served in a scoop or cone. Think Haagen-Dazs or Baskin-Robbins.
  • 冰棒 (bīngbàng) is a popsicle or ice lolly. It's usually water- or juice-based, frozen solid on a stick.
  • Incorrect Usage: Saying `我想吃一个冰淇淋` when pointing at a red bean popsicle is incorrect. You should say `我想吃一个冰棒`.
• What about 雪糕 (xuěgāo)?
  • 雪糕 (xuěgāo) is an “ice cream bar”. It's the middle ground: it's creamy and milk-based like 冰淇淋, but it's shaped and frozen on a stick like a 冰棒. A Magnum bar is a perfect example of a 雪糕.
• Alternative Term: 冰激凌 (bīngjīlíng):
  • You may sometimes see or hear 冰激凌 (bīngjīlíng). This is a valid, slightly older alternative for “ice cream”. While both are understood, 冰淇淋 (bīngqílín) is more common and standard in mainland China today.

• 冰棒 (bīngbàng) - Popsicle; a water-based frozen treat on a stick.
• 雪糕 (xuěgāo) - Ice cream bar; a creamy, milk-based frozen treat on a stick.
• 甜筒 (tiántǒng) - A sweet cone, used for serving soft-serve ice cream.
• 刨冰 (bàobīng) - Shaved ice; a traditional dessert of ice shavings with toppings.
• 甜点 (tiándiǎn) - The general category for dessert or sweet snacks.
• 口味 (kǒuwèi) - Flavor or taste; essential for describing what kind of ice cream you want.
• 融化 (rónghuà) - To melt; the inevitable fate of ice cream on a hot day.
• 夏天 (xiàtiān) - Summer; the season most associated with eating 冰淇淋.
• 凉快 (liángkuai) - Pleasantly cool; the feeling you get from eating ice cream.
• 圣代 (shèngdài) - Sundae; a phonetic loanword from English.