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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.


gyoza British  
/ ɡiːˈəʊzə /

noun

  1. a Japanese fried dumpling

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

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)

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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.

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Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Gyoza pork dumplings add extra heft and flavor.

From Seattle Times • Aug. 9, 2022

Failing that, I’ve never had a problem finding Ajinomoto Gyoza.

From Washington Post • Jul. 6, 2021

Gyoza pastry wrappers from an Asian supermarket usually come in packs of 50, so prepping them all in advance and freezing avoids waste and ensures you have a ready-to-cook batch to hand.

From The Guardian • Aug. 21, 2019

Gyoza are typically served with a thin soy-and-vinegar sauce, sometimes spiked with chili oil, but in Kobe, the preferred dipping condiment for these sizzling pan-fried dumplings is an umami-rich miso sauce.

From New York Times • Apr. 25, 2019

Gyoza swollen with short rib and foie gras are improbably light, dappled with sour cherries and a plum sake reduction.

From New York Times • Jul. 11, 2013

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