All words ›Xiaolongbao
FoodHow to pronounce “Xiaolongbao”
小笼包xiǎo lóng bāo
Literally: little basket bun — the soup dumpling.
❌ What English speakers usually say
“zee-ow long bow”
✅ What to say instead
syao-long-BOW — low, rising, flat high
The shape of the word
Tap any syllable to hear it. The curve above each one is the tone you are aiming for.
Syllable by syllable
| Syllable | Tone | Practise it |
|---|---|---|
| 小 xiǎo | Third tone — low dip | xiao — open drill → |
| 笼 lóng | Second tone — rising | long — open drill → |
| 包 bāo | First tone — high and flat | bao — open drill → |
Questions people ask
How do you pronounce Xiaolongbao?
Xiaolongbao is 小笼包, xiǎo lóng bāo — syao-long-BOW — low, rising, flat high. Literally it means little basket bun — the soup dumpling.
What is the most common mistake with Xiaolongbao?
“zee-ow long bow”
More words people mispronounce
Can you actually say it?
Reading a respelling is not the same as producing the tones. The free 2-minute check listens to you and shows which syllables land wrong.