Pumpkin Unit Study in Chinese: Vocabulary and Activities for Kids

Autumn is pumpkin season, which makes it a great time to learn Chinese. Pumpkins are colorful and fun to touch, so children remember the words easily.

This guide gives you 12 pumpkin words, simple sentences, measure words, and activities for a pumpkin unit in Chinese. You can start today with a real pumpkin and 10 minutes.

How Do You Say Pumpkin in Chinese?

Pumpkin in Chinese is 南瓜 (nánguā).

Here is the good news: most pumpkin words start with 南瓜. Learn it once, then add a new word to the end.

Pumpkin Vocabulary in Chinese

Chinese	Pinyin	English
南瓜	nánguā	pumpkin
南瓜藤	nánguā téng	pumpkin vine
南瓜柄	nánguā bǐng	pumpkin stem
南瓜皮	nánguā pí	pumpkin skin
南瓜叶	nánguā yè	pumpkin leaf
南瓜肉	nánguā ròu	pumpkin flesh
南瓜瓤	nánguā ráng	pumpkin pulp (the stringy inside)
南瓜籽	nánguā zǐ	pumpkin seed
南瓜汤	nánguā tāng	pumpkin soup
南瓜派	nánguā pài	pumpkin pie
南瓜卡车	nánguā kǎchē	pumpkin truck
南瓜灯	nánguā dēng	jack-o’-lantern

Don’t overthink it. You do not need all 12 words in one day. Start with 南瓜, 南瓜皮, and 南瓜籽. Add three more next week.

Learn the Parts of a Pumpkin in Chinese

A real pumpkin is the best teaching tool. Hold it up and name each part as children touch it:

• 南瓜柄 (the stem on top)
• 南瓜皮 (the outside)
• 南瓜肉 (the orange part you eat)
• 南瓜瓤 (the stringy part inside)
• 南瓜籽 (the seeds)

Outside the pumpkin, point to the 南瓜藤 and 南瓜叶 on a picture or poster. Children connect the word with what they see and feel.

Follow the Life of a Pumpkin

The life cycle teaches science and Chinese together. Walk through the six stages in order:

Stage	Chinese	Pinyin	English
1	种子	zhǒngzi	seed
2	发芽	fāyá	sprout
3	植物	zhíwù	plant
4	开花	kāihuā	bloom
5	结果	jiēguǒ	grow fruit
6	南瓜	nánguā	pumpkin

Mix up the picture cards and ask children to put them in order, saying each word. A few repetitions are enough for the words to stick.

Autumn is pumpkin season, which makes it a great time to learn Chinese. Pumpkins are colorful and fun to touch, so children remember the words easily.

This guide gives you 12 pumpkin words, simple sentences, measure words, and activities for a pumpkin unit in Chinese. You can start today with a real pumpkin and 10 minutes.

How Do You Say Pumpkin in Chinese?

Pumpkin in Chinese is 南瓜 (nánguā).

Here is the good news: most pumpkin words start with 南瓜. Learn it once, then add a new word to the end.

Pumpkin Vocabulary in Chinese

Chinese	Pinyin	English
南瓜	nánguā	pumpkin
南瓜藤	nánguā téng	pumpkin vine
南瓜柄	nánguā bǐng	pumpkin stem
南瓜皮	nánguā pí	pumpkin skin
南瓜叶	nánguā yè	pumpkin leaf
南瓜肉	nánguā ròu	pumpkin flesh
南瓜瓤	nánguā ráng	pumpkin pulp (the stringy inside)
南瓜籽	nánguā zǐ	pumpkin seed
南瓜汤	nánguā tāng	pumpkin soup
南瓜派	nánguā pài	pumpkin pie
南瓜卡车	nánguā kǎchē	pumpkin truck
南瓜灯	nánguā dēng	jack-o’-lantern

Don’t overthink it. You do not need all 12 words in one day. Start with 南瓜, 南瓜皮, and 南瓜籽. Add three more next week.

Learn the Parts of a Pumpkin in Chinese

A real pumpkin is the best teaching tool. Hold it up and name each part as children touch it:

• 南瓜柄 (the stem on top)
• 南瓜皮 (the outside)
• 南瓜肉 (the orange part you eat)
• 南瓜瓤 (the stringy part inside)
• 南瓜籽 (the seeds)

Outside the pumpkin, point to the 南瓜藤 and 南瓜叶 on a picture or poster. Children connect the word with what they see and feel.

Follow the Life of a Pumpkin

The life cycle teaches science and Chinese together. Walk through the six stages in order:

<th”>PinyinEnglish

Stage	Chinese
1	种子	zhǒngzi	seed
2	发芽	fāyá	sprout
3	植物	zhíwù	plant
4	开花	kāihuā	bloom
5	结果	jiēguǒ	grow fruit
6	南瓜	nánguā	pumpkin

Mix up the picture cards and ask children to put them in order, saying each word. A few repetitions are enough for the words to stick.

Simple Pumpkin Sentences to Practice

Short sentences let children use the new words right away:

• 这是一个南瓜。(Zhè shì yī gè nánguā.) This is a pumpkin.
• 南瓜皮是橙色的。(Nánguā pí shì chéngsè de.) The pumpkin skin is orange.
• 南瓜里面有南瓜籽。(Nánguā lǐmiàn yǒu nánguā zǐ.) There are seeds inside the pumpkin.
• 我喜欢南瓜汤。(Wǒ xǐhuan nánguā tāng.) I like pumpkin soup.

Count Pumpkin Things with Measure Words

Pumpkin words are a fun way to practice measure words. Each thing uses a different one:

Chinese	Pinyin	English
一个南瓜	yī gè nánguā	one pumpkin
一个南瓜派	yī gè nánguā pài	one whole pumpkin pie
一块南瓜派	yī kuài nánguā pài	one piece of pumpkin pie
一块南瓜	yī kuài nánguā	one piece of pumpkin
一个南瓜灯	yī gè nánguā dēng	one jack-o’-lantern
一碗南瓜汤	yī wǎn nánguā tāng	one bowl of pumpkin soup
一片南瓜叶	yī piàn nánguā yè	one pumpkin leaf
一颗南瓜籽	yī kē nánguā zǐ	one pumpkin seed

Notice the pattern. 个 is for a whole thing, and 块 is for a piece. So 一个南瓜派 is a whole pie, and 一块南瓜派 is a slice. You don’t need to explain it. Say the phrases aloud a few times, and children start to hear the difference.

Want more? Read our guide to Chinese measure words and our Chinese numbers guide.

Pumpkin Activities for Learning Chinese

Short, frequent practice works better than one long lesson. Try one of these for 10 minutes:

• Memory game. Match picture cards with word cards and say each word when you flip.
• Pumpkin parts hunt. Cut open a real pumpkin and name each part, from 南瓜皮 to 南瓜籽.
• Count the seeds. Count 南瓜籽 in Chinese as you pull them out.
• Life cycle order. Mix up the six stages, then put them in order and say each one.
• Grow a pumpkin in Chinese. Act out the stages. Start curled up as a 种子, then 发芽, stand as a 植物, 开花 with open arms, 结果, and finish as a big round 南瓜.
• Circle the measure word. Say a phrase like “一___南瓜派” and ask children to choose 个 or 块. Use real pie, or pictures, to check the answer together.
• Pumpkin kitchen. Cook 南瓜汤 or bake 南瓜派, and name each step in Chinese.
• Make a 南瓜灯. Carve or draw a face and name the parts of the face.

Pair this unit with our Halloween Chinese activities for more fall fun.

Want Everything Ready to Print?

If you would rather not make the materials yourself, the Pumpkin Chinese Learning Pack for Kids has them ready. It is a 42-page printable PDF with anatomy and life cycle posters, Montessori 3-part flashcards (including pumpkin pie and pumpkin truck), measure words flashcards, number cards, a Color and Learn vocabulary book, worksheets including “Circle the Correct Measure Word,” and coloring pages.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is pumpkin in Chinese?

Pumpkin is 南瓜 (nánguā).

How do you say pumpkin seeds in Chinese?

Pumpkin seeds are 南瓜籽 (nánguā zǐ).

How do you say pumpkin pie in Chinese?

Pumpkin pie is 南瓜派 (nánguā pài).

What measure word do you use for pumpkin?

Use 个, as in 一个南瓜 (one pumpkin). For a piece of pumpkin, use 块, as in 一块南瓜.

How do you teach a pumpkin unit in Chinese?

Start with 3 to 5 words, use a real pumpkin, practice a little each day, and add sentences and games as children gain confidence.

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