<p>They are different words used by people from different parts of China, just like aubergine and eggplant for English speakers from different regions. This is very common in Chinese，like potatoes(土豆，洋芋，马铃薯 and more)， pineapples(菠萝，凤梨)...</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>Is one version used more in different regions than others?</p>
</blockquote>

<p>I would rather say that people from northern China only used the word 西红柿， and people from southern China, as well as Hong Kong, Taiwan, only use 番茄. But of course people understand each other. </p>

<p>An exception is when forming a new word(product name, dishes), 番茄 is often used, despite the regions, like 番茄酱, 番茄鸡蛋汤. Although you can hear 西红柿炒鸡蛋 in north China, that probably only appear in spoken language(or small casual catering).
Also， if you look into the words literally, 西红柿 stands for western red Diospyros, and 番茄 for foreign Solanaceae</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-04-23T13:48:19.957Z
2014-04-24T10:53:33.037Z
2014-04-24T10:53:33.037Z
gherkin
<p>They both mean tomato, </p>

<p>In mainland China, 西红柿 is used more often while in Taiwan 番茄 is more used.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-04-22T19:29:16.447Z
番茄 is regular in Hong Kong Cantonese as well.
jogloran
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-04-22T21:16:21.883Z
番茄 is used in South China...
user58955
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-04-23T00:57:41.040Z
A native speaker explained to me that 番茄 is the traditional word for tomato (so older generation in mainland China still use it, as well as Hong Kong, Taiwan, Macao) where 西红柿 is a newer term (and used in mainland China, Malaysia and Singapore.) With food I've found restaurants in many places like to use traditional words and/or traditional characters to seem more posh (no matter if it's mainland China, Malaysia, or Hong Kong, Taiwan.)
Ming
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-04-23T15:27:33.473Z
@user58955 I am from S. China, we say 西红柿.
Ma Ming
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-07-02T17:04:41.827Z
Both are common in Mainland China.
Kovács Imre
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-04-22T18:36:10.110Z
2014-04-22T18:36:10.110Z
ChineseHulu.com
<p>There are 30m more hits on 番茄 in 百度. Search results are pretty much the same for both. Is one version used more in different regions than others?</p>

<difference><food>
What's the difference between 番茄 and 西红柿?
# What's the difference between 番茄 and 西红柿?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2014-04-22)

There are 30m more hits on 番茄 in 百度. Search results are pretty much the same for both. Is one version used more in different regions than others?

**Tags:** difference, food


---

## 2 answers

### Answer by username_2 on 2014-04-22. Score: 6 | Accepted answer

They both mean tomato,

In mainland China, 西红柿 is used more often while in Taiwan 番茄 is more used.

> **Comments:**
> **username_3**: 番茄 is regular in Hong Kong Cantonese as well.  
> **username_4**: 番茄 is used in South China...  
> **username_5**: A native speaker explained to me that 番茄 is the traditional word for tomato (so older generation in mainland China still use it, as well as Hong Kong, Taiwan, Macao) where 西红柿 is a newer term (and used in mainland China, Malaysia and Singapore.) With food I've found restaurants in many places like to use traditional words and/or traditional characters to seem more posh (no matter if it's mainland China, Malaysia, or Hong Kong, Taiwan.)  
> **username_6**: @username_4 I am from S. China, we say 西红柿.  
> **username_7**: Both are common in Mainland China.  

---

### Answer by username_1 on 2014-04-23. Score: 4

They are different words used by people from different parts of China, just like aubergine and eggplant for English speakers from different regions. This is very common in Chinese，like potatoes(土豆，洋芋，马铃薯 and more)， pineapples(菠萝，凤梨)...

> Is one version used more in different regions than others?

I would rather say that people from northern China only used the word 西红柿， and people from southern China, as well as Hong Kong, Taiwan, only use 番茄. But of course people understand each other.

An exception is when forming a new word(product name, dishes), 番茄 is often used, despite the regions, like 番茄酱, 番茄鸡蛋汤. Although you can hear 西红柿炒鸡蛋 in north China, that probably only appear in spoken language(or small casual catering).
Also， if you look into the words literally, 西红柿 stands for western red Diospyros, and 番茄 for foreign Solanaceae


---

