洋芋 (yáng yù) — (dialectal) potato | tongtong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

A dialectal name for 'potato,' commonly used in southwest China (Sichuan, Yunnan, Guizhou) and in some other regions. In standard Mandarin, 土豆 is more widely used.

noun

(dialectal) potato

Measure word · 个

Examples

洋芋。
Jīn tiān wǎn fàn wǒ men chī yáng yù dùn niú ròu.
We're having potato stewed beef for dinner tonight.
洋芋。
Mā ma zài cài shì chǎng mǎi le liǎng jīn yáng yù.
Mom bought two jin of potatoes at the market.
洋芋，。
Bǎ yáng yù qiē chéng xiǎo kuài, rán hòu fàng jìn guō lǐ zhǔ.
Cut the potatoes into small pieces, then put them in the pot to boil.

Origin

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

洋yángforeign

洋 (foreign) and 芋 (taro) name the potato as a foreign-looking tuber, not a true taro.

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

氵羊洋

Meaning part形符xíngfú

氵Written in full as水shuǐwater

Sound part声符shēngfú

羊

羊yáng洋yáng

Same sound today

洋 pairs 氵, the water part, with 羊 to give its sound.

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú

艸艸cǎograss; plant

Sound part声符shēngfú

于

于yú芋yù

Same sound today

In 芋, 艸 marks a plant, and 于 gives the sound, to name taro.

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