Usage note
馒头是蒸出来的面食。
mán tou shì zhēng chū lái de miàn shí。
Steamed bun is a type of steamed flour food.
Context note
馒头常出现在早餐、午饭和家常饭里。
mán tou cháng chū xiàn zài zǎo cān 、 wǔ fàn hé jiā cháng fàn lǐ。
Steamed buns often appear at breakfast, lunch, and home meals.
5 examples
我吃馒头。
wǒ chī mán tou。
I eat steamed buns.
馒头很香。
mán tou hěn xiāng。
The steamed bun smells nice.
妈妈蒸了馒头。
mā ma zhēng le mán tou。
Mom steamed buns.
这个馒头很大。
zhè ge mán tou hěn dà。
This steamed bun is very big.
馒头配汤很好。
mán tou pèi tāng hěn hǎo。
Steamed buns go well with soup.
5 mini stories
早上妈妈蒸了热馒头，我们都很喜欢。
zǎo shàng mā ma zhēng le rè mán tou， wǒ men dōu hěn xǐ huan。
In the morning Mom steamed hot buns, and we all liked them.
我把馒头掰开，里面很软。
wǒ bǎ mán tou bāi kāi， lǐ miàn hěn ruǎn。
I split the steamed bun open, and it was very soft inside.
午饭时，我吃了一个馒头和一碗汤。
wǔ fàn shí， wǒ chī le yí gè mán tou hé yì wǎn tāng。
At lunch, I ate a steamed bun and a bowl of soup.
爷爷说馒头是很常见的主食。
yé ye shuō mán tou shì hěn cháng jiàn de zhǔ shí。
Grandpa said steamed buns are a very common staple food.
这个馒头刚出锅，还很热。
zhè ge mán tou gāng chū guō， hái hěn rè。
This steamed bun just came out of the pot and is still hot.
Mini dialogue
早餐选择
A
你早餐想吃什么？
Nǐ zǎocān xiǎng chī shénme?
What do you want for breakfast?
B
我想吃一个热馒头。
Wǒ xiǎng chī yī gè rè mántou.
I want to eat a hot steamed bun.
分享食物
A
这个馒头真软，给你一半。
Zhè ge mántou zhēn ruǎn, gěi nǐ yībàn.
This steamed bun is so soft, here's half for you.
B
谢谢，我喜欢吃馒头。
Xièxie, wǒ xǐhuan chī mántou.
Thanks, I like eating steamed buns.
Related words and contrasts
related
包子
bāo zi
steamed stuffed bun
包子 has filling inside, while 馒头 is usually plain without filling.
related
米饭
mǐ fàn
cooked rice
Both 馒头 and 米饭 are staple foods made from grains.