yī lóng: 一笼 - A Steamer Basket of / A Cage of

• Keywords: yī lóng, yí lóng, 一笼, Chinese measure word, Chinese classifier, steamer basket, dim sum, xiaolongbao, ordering food in Chinese, Chinese food culture, cage of, basket of.
• Summary: Discover the meaning of 一笼 (yī lóng), an essential Chinese measure word that translates to “a steamer basket of” or “a cage of.” This guide is perfect for beginners wanting to master ordering dim sum like a native. Learn how to use 一笼 to order delicious xiaolongbao (小笼包), understand its cultural significance in Chinese food, and see practical examples that will give you confidence on your next visit to a Chinese restaurant.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): yī lóng
• Part of Speech: Measure Word (Classifier) + Noun
• HSK Level: N/A (The concept of measure words is fundamental from HSK 1-2).
• Concise Definition: A measure word for a quantity of something contained within a steamer basket or a cage.
• In a Nutshell: Think of the iconic, stackable bamboo baskets used for cooking dumplings and buns in Chinese cuisine. 一笼 (yī lóng) literally means “one basket” and is the go-to phrase for ordering a serving of these steamed delicacies. While it can also mean “a cage of” (e.g., birds), its most common use by far is in the context of food, especially dim sum.

• 一 (yī): The simplest character, meaning “one” or “a single unit.”
• 笼 (lóng): A cage or basket. You can break this character down further:
  • The ⺮ (zhú) radical on top means “bamboo,” indicating the material these baskets and traditional cages were made from.
  • The 龙 (lóng) character below means “dragon” and is included here primarily for its sound.
• Together, 一笼 (yī lóng) literally means “one bamboo basket/cage,” which perfectly describes a serving of food from a bamboo steamer.

In Chinese culture, food is often a communal experience, and the concept of 一笼 is deeply tied to the social tradition of 饮茶 (yǐn chá), or “yum cha” as it's known in Cantonese. This is a leisurely meal where small, varied dishes—collectively known as 点心 (diǎnxīn) or dim sum—are shared among friends and family. Unlike a Western meal where each person might order their own large “plate,” a dim sum meal involves ordering many different small dishes to share. This is where 一笼 becomes essential. You don't order one dumpling; you order 一笼 (a basket of) dumplings. You might order 一笼 of shrimp dumplings, 一笼 of pork buns, and 一笼 of steamed ribs. This act of ordering and sharing multiple 笼 reinforces cultural values of community, variety, and enjoying a prolonged, social dining experience. The sight of a cart laden with steaming bamboo baskets being wheeled through a bustling restaurant is an iconic image of Chinese culinary life.

The primary use of 一笼 is when ordering food in a restaurant, particularly one that serves dim sum or steamed buns. It is a standard, neutral term used in both casual and formal dining settings.

• Ordering Dim Sum: This is the most common scenario. You will use it to specify the quantity of any dish that is served in a steamer basket.
• Referring to Animals: A less common but correct usage is to refer to a cage of animals, such as birds or hamsters. For example, `一笼鸟 (yì lóng niǎo)` means “a cage of birds.”

The connotation is purely descriptive and functional. There is no positive or negative feeling associated with the term itself.

• Example 1:
  • 我们点一笼小笼包吧！
  • Pinyin: Wǒmen diǎn yì lóng xiǎolóngbāo ba!
  • English: Let's order a steamer basket of xiaolongbao!
  • Analysis: A classic and highly useful sentence for any dim sum restaurant. Note the tone change of 一 (yī) to yì before a fourth tone.
• Example 2:
  • 服务员，请再给我们来一笼虾饺。
  • Pinyin: Fúwùyuán, qǐng zài gěi wǒmen lái yì lóng xiā jiǎo.
  • English: Waiter, please bring us another basket of shrimp dumplings.
  • Analysis: This demonstrates how to politely order more food using `再来 (zài lái)`.
• Example 3:
  • 这一笼烧卖有几个？
  • Pinyin: Zhè yì lóng shāomai yǒu jǐ ge?
  • English: How many shumai are in this basket?
  • Analysis: A practical question to ask to know how much you're ordering.
• Example 4:
  • 小心，这一笼包子很烫。
  • Pinyin: Xiǎoxīn, zhè yì lóng bāozi hěn tàng.
  • English: Be careful, this basket of buns is very hot.
  • Analysis: Here, `一笼` is used to refer to a specific basket of food that has just arrived.
• Example 5:
  • 我一个人就能吃完一笼。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ yí ge rén jiù néng chī wán yì lóng.
  • English: I can finish a whole basket by myself.
  • Analysis: A common, slightly informal phrase to express how much you love a particular dish.
• Example 6:
  • 一笼汤包多少钱？
  • Pinyin: Yì lóng tāng bāo duōshǎo qián?
  • English: How much is one basket of soup dumplings?
  • Analysis: A direct and essential sentence for ordering and managing your budget.
• Example 7:
  • 他们家的蟹粉小笼是招牌，我们必须点一笼。
  • Pinyin: Tāmen jiā de xièfěn xiǎolóng shì zhāopái, wǒmen bìxū diǎn yì lóng.
  • English: Their crab roe xiaolongbao is their specialty; we have to order a basket.
  • Analysis: Shows how to recommend or insist on ordering a signature dish (`招牌 zhāopái`).
• Example 8:
  • 我们一共点了五笼点心，应该够了。
  • Pinyin: Wǒmen yígòng diǎnle wǔ lóng diǎnxīn, yīnggāi gòu le.
  • English: We ordered five baskets of dim sum in total, that should be enough.
  • Analysis: This shows that the number before `笼` can be changed. Note that `一` is dropped when using other numbers.
• Example 9:
  • 热气腾腾的一笼叉烧包被端了上来。
  • Pinyin: Rèqì téngténg de yì lóng chāshāo bāo bèi duān le shànglái.
  • English: A steaming hot basket of BBQ pork buns was brought to the table.
  • Analysis: A more descriptive sentence, using the idiom `热气腾腾 (rèqì téngténg)` to mean “steaming hot.”
• Example 10:
  • 我爷爷在阳台上养了一笼鸟。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ yéye zài yángtái shàng yǎngle yì lóng niǎo.
  • English: My grandpa keeps a cage of birds on the balcony.
  • Analysis: This is an important example showing the non-food-related usage of `笼` as “a cage of.”

• Specificity is Key: A common mistake for learners is to think 笼 (lóng) is a generic word for “basket.” It is not. You cannot use it for a shopping basket (篮子 lánzi) or a fruit basket (果篮 guǒlán). 笼 is almost exclusively used for a steamer basket (蒸笼 zhēnglóng) or a cage (笼子 lóngzi).
  • Incorrect: ~~我提着一笼蔬菜。~~ (I'm carrying a basket of vegetables.)
  • Correct: 我提着一篮子蔬菜。(Wǒ tízhe yī lánzi shūcài.)
• Measure Word vs. Noun: Remember that in the phrase `一笼包子`, 笼 is a measure word. The actual object is a 蒸笼 (zhēnglóng). You wouldn't say “Give me the 笼” when asking for the physical basket; you'd ask for the `蒸笼`.
• One Item vs. a Whole Basket: Don't confuse ordering a single item with ordering a whole basket.
  • `一个包子 (yí ge bāozi)` = one single bun.
  • `一笼包子 (yì lóng bāozi)` = a whole steamer basket of buns (usually 3-8 buns).

• 小笼包 (xiǎolóngbāo): “Small basket buns.” The most famous dish associated with this measure word.
• 蒸笼 (zhēnglóng): The specific noun for the bamboo steamer basket itself.
• 点心 (diǎnxīn): The category of food (dim sum, snacks) often served in a `笼`.
• 个 (gè): The most common, all-purpose measure word. You'd use this to count individual dumplings if you took them out of the basket.
• 盘 (pán): A related measure word meaning “a plate of,” used for fried or stir-fried dishes.
• 碗 (wǎn): Another common measure word, meaning “a bowl of,” used for soups, noodles, or rice.
• 笼子 (lóngzi): The noun for “a cage.” `一笼鸟` is a shortened form of `一笼子的鸟`.
• 饮茶 (yǐn chá): Literally “to drink tea,” this term refers to the entire cultural practice of going out for dim sum.