芋 (yù) — taro; tuber crops (in compounds like 洋芋, 山芋)

Definition

芋 is almost always seen as 芋头 (yùtou), the everyday word for taro — a starchy tuber used in savory and sweet dishes. It rarely stands alone and mainly appears in compounds like 洋芋 (potato).

bound form
tarotuber crops (in compounds like 洋芋, 山芋)
Easily confused

Examples

  • 。
    Zhè ge yù tou hěn hǎo chī.
    This taro is very tasty.
  • 。
    Wǒ mǎi le sān jīn yù tou.
    I bought three jin of taro.
  • 芋。
    yù Ní shì zuò tián diǎn de hǎo cái liào.
    Taro paste is a good ingredient for making desserts.

Origin

Sound + meaning
六书liùshū
形声xíngshēng

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.

Appears in
Vegetables

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