‘雪梨’ (xuě lí) literally means 'snow pear' — a crisp, sweet, juicy variety of Asian pear prized for its pale yellowish-white flesh and refreshing texture. The character 雪 (xuě) means 'snow', evoking the fruit’s cool, clean taste and snowy-white interior when peeled; 梨 (lí) means 'pear', identifying it as a member of the pear family. Unlike Western pears, snow pears remain firm and grainy even when fully ripe, and are often eaten raw, stewed, or used in traditional herbal soups.

This word is commonly used in everyday food contexts — at markets, in recipes, and in health-related discussions, especially in southern China and among Cantonese speakers. It’s also frequently featured in Chinese medicinal cooking, where it’s valued for its moistening and soothing properties for the throat and lungs. Though botanically a pear, 'snow pear' refers specifically to cultivars like the Ya pear (Pyrus pyrifolia), not generic pears — so using 雪梨 implies both a specific type and cultural association with freshness and wellness.