chinese date: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowSpecialist (culinary, botanical), sometimes informal
Quick answer
What does “chinese date” mean?
A small, sweet, oval fruit from the jujube tree, native to China, often dried and used in cooking.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A small, sweet, oval fruit from the jujube tree, native to China, often dried and used in cooking.
Can refer to the fruit itself, the tree (Ziziphus jujuba), or a confection made from the fruit. In some contexts, it may be associated with traditional Chinese medicine or cuisine.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Usage is largely identical, though awareness of the fruit may be higher in regions with stronger East Asian culinary influences.
Connotations
Connotes exoticism, health foods, or traditional Chinese ingredients.
Frequency
Equally low frequency in both dialects. More likely encountered in health food stores, Asian markets, or specific recipes.
Grammar
How to Use “chinese date” in a Sentence
[verb] Chinese dates (e.g., eat, buy, add, soak)[adjective] Chinese dates (e.g., dried, fresh, medicinal)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “chinese date” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The recipe says to stew the Chinese dates for twenty minutes.
American English
- You should pit the Chinese dates before adding them to the trail mix.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare, except in import/export of specialty foods or herbal products.
Academic
Used in botanical, culinary history, or ethnopharmacology texts.
Everyday
Used when discussing cooking, especially Asian recipes, or in health food contexts.
Technical
Botanical name is Ziziphus jujuba. In TCM, it may be referred to as 'da zao'.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “chinese date”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “chinese date”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “chinese date”
- Using 'Chinese date' to refer to a calendar date related to China.
- Confusing it with a common date (Phoenix dactylifera).
- Capitalising 'date' as if it were a proper noun (incorrect: Chinese Date).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is the fruit of the jujube tree (Ziziphus jujuba) and is only called a 'date' due to its similar appearance and sweetness.
They can be eaten fresh, dried, or candied. Dried ones are common and are often used in soups, teas, stews, or as a snack.
The most common synonyms are 'jujube' or 'red date'.
They are a source of vitamins and fibre and have been used in traditional medicine, but one should consult scientific or medical sources for specific health claims.
A small, sweet, oval fruit from the jujube tree, native to China, often dried and used in cooking.
Chinese date is usually specialist (culinary, botanical), sometimes informal in register.
Chinese date: in British English it is pronounced /ˌtʃaɪˌniːz ˈdeɪt/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌtʃaɪˌniz ˈdeɪt/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “None directly associated.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'A date from China' – it's a sweet fruit, but not the palm tree kind you find in the Middle East.
Conceptual Metaphor
HEALTH IS SWEETNESS / TRADITIONAL WISDOM IS A FRUIT (due to its use in traditional medicine).
Practice
Quiz
What is a 'Chinese date' primarily?