bao

American  

[bou] / baʊ /

noun

1. an African board game usually played by moving pebbles along two rows of holes.

---

Etymology

Origin of bao

From Swahili

Explanation

A bao is a soft steamed bun with a savory filling. If you order dim sum at a Chinese restaurant, you'll probably get to taste several kinds of bao. Bao, or "bun," comes from Cantonese, and it's a specialty of Cantonese cuisine. Bao is different from other dumplings because it's steamed, rather than boiled or fried, and made with yeast. The result is a pillowy case for fillings like barbecued pork or pickled vegetables. Some bao is pinched into a round ball, while others are open, encasing the filling like a taco. You can also call these delicious treats baozi, or "filled buns."

Example Sentences

Or if you didn’t win, there was still plenty to savor Sunday night, including buffet stations bursting with sliders, spring rolls and short rib bao buns.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 16, 2026

Inspired by xiao long bao, steamed Chinese soup dumplings from the Jiangsu province, TJ’s Steamed Pork & Ginger Soup Dumplings feature hot soup, pork and ginger encased in a doughy exterior.

From Salon • Jan. 28, 2026

Placards on the table provide instructions on how to eat Din Tai Fung’s xiao long bao, or soup dumplings, and diners mark their orders on long slips of paper that are then collected by servers.

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 20, 2025

The South Korean team’s meal planning—a microwave appeared from a box to warm up bao one day, prime rib the next—kept up spirits despite the language barrier.

From Science Magazine • Apr. 18, 2024

“Ollie made these bao and they’re really good. I thought you might like to try one.”

From "Clairboyance" by Kristiana Kahakauwila