Usage note
饺子是一种中国面食，里面包着肉或菜，煮熟了吃。
Jiǎozi shì yī zhǒng Zhōngguó miànshí, lǐmiàn bāo zhe ròu huò cài, zhǔ shú le chī.
This word refers to a Chinese food made of dough wrapped around a filling of meat or vegetables, then cooked by boiling.
Context note
饺子是一种传统中国食物，通常在春节或家庭聚会时吃。
Jiǎozi shì yī zhǒng chuántǒng Zhōngguó shíwù, tōngcháng zài Chūnjié huò jiātíng jùhuì shí chī.
This word is used when talking about a traditional Chinese food often eaten during Chinese New Year or family gatherings.
5 examples
我喜欢吃饺子
wǒ xǐ huān chī jiǎozi
I like to eat dumplings.
妈妈包了饺子
māma bāo le jiǎozi
Mom made dumplings.
超市里卖现成的饺子
shìchǎng lǐ mài xiàn chéng de jiǎozi
The supermarket sells ready-made dumplings.
我们去吃饺子吧
wǒmen qù chī jiǎozi ba
Let's go eat dumplings.
饺子是中国的传统食物
jiǎozi shì zhōngguó de tрадиционное блюдо
Dumplings are a traditional Chinese food.
5 mini stories
妈妈包了饺子，我们一家人都喜欢吃。
māma bāo le jiǎozi, wǒmen yījiā rén dōu xǐ huān chī.
Mom made dumplings, and all of our family like to eat them.
春节的时候，我们吃了很多饺子。
chūnjié de shíhòu, wǒmen chī le hěnduō jiǎozi.
During the Spring Festival, we ate a lot of dumplings.
爸爸教我包饺子，我很开心。
bàba jiāo wǒ bāo jiǎozi, wǒ hěn kāixīn.
Dad taught me to make dumplings, and I was very happy.
我们去餐馆吃饺子，味道很好。
wǒmen qù cānguǎn chī jiǎozi, wèidào hěn hǎo.
We went to a restaurant and ate dumplings; the taste was very good.
奶奶教我包了几个饺子，很好玩。
lǎinǎi jiāo wǒ bāo le jǐ gè jiǎozi, hěn hǎoplay.
Grandma taught me to make a few dumplings; it was very fun.
Mini dialogue
吃饺子
A
你爱吃饺子吗？
Nǐ ài chī jiǎozi ma?
Do you love eating dumplings?
B
爱吃，饺子很好吃。
Ài chī, jiǎozi hěn hǎochī.
Yes, I do. Dumplings are delicious.
包饺子
A
奶奶在包饺子。
Nǎinai zài bāo jiǎozi.
Grandma is making dumplings.
B
我们一起去帮忙吧。
Wǒmen yīqǐ qù bāngmáng ba.
Let's go help together.
Related words and contrasts
related
包子
bāozi
steamed stuffed bun
Both are filled dough foods, but 饺子 is boiled and has a thinner skin.
related
馄饨
húntun
wonton
Similar to 饺子 but usually served in soup with a thinner wrapper.
related
春节
Chūnjié
Spring Festival (Chinese New Year)
Eating 饺子 is a tradition during 春节.