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Chinese vocabulary · Beginner
How do you say "cotton" in Chinese?
棉花
mián huā
In Chinese, "cotton" is 棉花 (mián huā).
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Pronunciation
Try saying "mián huā" — second tone, then first tone — where rising sharply, the way your voice lifts when you ask "what?"; then the next syllable is held flat and steady, almost like humming one note.
Writing and usage
棉花 is written using hanzi. It's a noun, part of the vocabulary taught in the Noun Town language learning game.
Example sentence
这件衬衫是柔软的棉质制成的。
zhè jiàn chèn shān shì róu ruǎn de mián zhì zhì chéng de 。
This shirt is made of soft cotton.
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How to remember 棉花
A quick anchor: the moment when this shirt is made of soft cotton, then say "mián huā" out loud.
Related words
Browse all Chinese words in the glossary.
Questions about 棉花
How do you pronounce 棉花?
Try saying "mián huā" — second tone, then first tone — where rising sharply, the way your voice lifts when you ask "what?"; then the next syllable is held flat and steady, almost like humming one note.
Is 棉花 formal or casual?
棉花 is a neutral, everyday word that works in both casual and polite speech.
How is 棉花 used in Chinese?
棉花 is used the same way as the equivalent English noun. For example: 这件衬衫是柔软的棉质制成的。 (This shirt is made of soft cotton.).
Where can I practice Chinese words for free?
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"Cotton" in other languages
Curated by Callan Ratcliffe
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