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Definition of dango
dango
/ˈdɑːŋɡoʊ/
dan · go
Plural:dango
dango Lexical Profile
CEFR
C1
Grade
9
Tier
3
Usage
Rare
• noun
1
A Japanese sweet dumpling made from mochiko (rice flour), typically served three to five on a skewer and often covered with a sweet soy glaze, red bean paste, or kinako (roasted soybean flour).
Example
"During the cherry blossom viewing, the vendors sold colorful skewers of hanami dango to the gathering crowds."
Synonyms
View all synonyms for dangoWord Nuance & Usage
In Western contexts, 'dango' is often confused with 'mochi'; however, dango is specifically made from rice flour (mochiko) rather than glutinous rice pounded into a paste.
• Rhymes for dango
Word Origin & Etymology
Borrowed from Japanese 団子 (dango), meaning 'dumpling' or 'round dough', ultimately derived from Middle Chinese.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.
180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer
Cite this Entry
Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Dango. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Oct 15, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/dango