gyoza

American  

[gyoh-zuh, gyaw-zah] / ˈgyoʊ zə, ˈgyɔˈzɑ /

noun

1. a Japanese dish consisting of dumplings typically filled with ground meat and vegetables and pan-fried, then steamed.

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gyoza British  

/ ɡiːˈəʊzə /

noun

1. a Japanese fried dumpling

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Etymology

Origin of gyoza

First recorded in 1965–70; from Japanese gyoza, from Chinese dialect (Shandong) giǎoze ( Mandarin jiǎozi ), equivalent to giǎo “stuffed dumpling” + ze “little child” (used as a diminutive suffix)

Compare meaning

How does gyoza compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• gyoza vs. dumpling

Explanation

A gyoza is a Japanese dumpling made of meat or vegetable filling inside a very thinly rolled piece of dough. Whether boiled or fried, gyoza are delicious. The Japanese gyōza is derived from the Mandarin jiǎozi (and the two words are commonly written with the same Chinese characters). The gyoza was first developed during World War II, when Japanese soldiers returned from China with recipes for the traditional Chinese New Year dumpling, jiaozi. The Japanese version is similar but with a more garlicky filling inside a thinner wrapper. Gyoza is usually served with a soy dipping sauce.

Example Sentences

Side dishes such as gyoza and ramen offerings were mostly untouched, according to Uttz, adding that the 3.5% price lift is a blended figure of all the increases.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 9, 2026

In January 2023, it opened a high-tech factory equipped with AI-powered cameras trained to detect any faulty gyoza on the production lines.

From BBC • Apr. 19, 2024

The terms "ramen" and "gyoza" sound very much like the Japanese pronunciation of the northern Chinese foods lamian and jiaozi, although Kushner disputes the direct connection between the two terms.

From Salon • May 30, 2023

From soup dumplings to gyoza and ravioli: Here’s a guide to Los Angeles’ best dumplings, with many highlighted in video series “The Bucket List: Dumplings.”

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 6, 2023

When I say dumplings, you probably think of dozens of dishes: gyoza, ravioli, pierogies, empanadas, the list goes on.

From Seattle Times • May 10, 2022