西瓜 (xīguā) — watermelon

西瓜 (xīguā)

Watermelon, one of the most beloved summer fruits in China. 西 means "west" and 瓜 means "melon" or "gourd." Watermelons were introduced to China from the west along the Silk Road, giving the fruit its name.

Meanings

1. [noun] Watermelon. A large round fruit with green skin, red flesh, and high water content.

Example Sentences

夏天我喜欢吃西瓜。 Xiàtiān wǒ xǐhuān chī xīguā. I like to eat watermelon in summer.

这个西瓜很甜。 Zhège xīguā hěn tián. This watermelon is very sweet.

请给我切一块西瓜。 Qǐng gěi wǒ qiē yī kuài xīguā. Please cut me a piece of watermelon.

超市里的西瓜很便宜。 Chāoshì lǐ de xīguā hěn piányí. The watermelons at the supermarket are very cheap.

Collocations

Memory Hook

西 means "west" and 瓜 means "melon." The watermelon came from the west, so Chinese gave it the name "western melon." Imagine a melon traveling west along the ancient Silk Road and arriving in China.