蘑菇
mógū/mu̯ɔ³⁵ g̊u³/
The English word 'mushroom' is translated into Mandarin as 蘑菇 (mógū). If unsure, use 蘑菇. Wiktionary also lists 蕈 (xùn) and 菌子 (jùnzi).
Meaning: fruiting body of a fungus (noun)
Ways to say it
| Mandarin | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 蘑菇 | mógū | /mu̯ɔ³⁵ g̊u³/ (Mandarin, Standard Chinese, Mainland China, standard, Taiwan, Sinological IPA) /mu̯ɔ³⁵ ku⁵⁵/ (Mandarin, Standard Chinese, variant, Sinological IPA) |
|
| 蕈 | xùn | /ɕyn⁵¹/ (Mandarin, Standard Chinese, Sinological IPA) /t͡sʰɐm¹³/ (Cantonese, Guangzhou, Sinological IPA, Standard Cantonese, Hong Kong) |
|
| 菌子 | jùnzi | /t͡ɕyn⁵¹ d͡z̥ɹ̩¹/ (Mandarin, Standard Chinese, Sinological IPA) /t͡ɕyn²¹³ t͡sɹ̩⁵³/ (Mandarin, Chengdu, Sinological IPA) |
|
| 蘑菇 | mô͘-ko͘ | /mɔ̃²⁴⁻²² kɔ⁴⁴/ (Min Nan, Hokkien, Sinological IPA, Xiamen) /mɔ̃²⁴⁻²² kɔ³³/ (Min Nan, Hokkien, Sinological IPA, Quanzhou) |
Hokkien |
蘑菇 is the most common and standard way to say 'mushroom' in everyday Mandarin Chinese, referring to the fruiting body of a fungus.
Which one should you use?
While 蘑菇 is the general term for any mushroom, 菌子 is often used in many parts of China to specifically refer to edible wild mushrooms used in cooking. In contrast, 蕈 is a more formal, botanical or literary way to refer to fungi or mushrooms.
Is it said differently in some regions?
могў is used in the Dungan language, and 蘑菇 is the Hokkien form.
How do you pronounce it?
The Hokkien form 蘑菇 is pronounced /mu̯ɔ³⁵ g̊u³/.
Did you know?
- Some linguists suggest that 蘑菇 is actually a phonetic alteration of the phrase 無辜, which means 'innocent' or 'guiltless'.
- The character 咕 in 蘑菇 serves as a suffix for verbs rather than a noun describing a plant.
Examples in context
- 我做了蘑菇汤。I made mushroom soup.This sentence is useful for seeing how to use 蘑菇 in the context of making soup.Tatoeba #13839306 by JackyJiaqiSun, translation #12581633 by Danika_Dakika
- 我特別喜歡蘑菇的味道。I especially like the flavour of the mushroom.This sentence shows how to use 蘑菇 when talking about a preferred flavour.Tatoeba #6940063 by xjjAstrus, translation #7808590 by sharris123
- 我喜欢吃蘑菇。I like to eat mushrooms.
- 这道菜需要香菇。This dish requires shiitake mushrooms.
- 籃子裡有很多蘑菇。Lánzi lǐ yǒu hěnduō mógū.There are many mushrooms in the basket.
Example conversation
At a local supermarket, looking at fresh produce.
- 志强 Zhiqiang這籃蘑菇很新鮮嗎？Zhè lán mógū hěn xīnxiān ma?Is this basket of mushrooms fresh?
- 佳怡 Jiayi是的，今天剛到的。Shì de, jīntiān gāng dào de.Yes, they arrived today.
- 志强 Zhiqiang那我要買一盒。Nà wǒ yào mǎi yī hé.Then I will buy one box.
- 佳怡 Jiayi好的，我幫您拿。Hǎo de, wǒ bāng nín ná.Okay, I will get it for you.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “mushroom” translations and entries 蘑菇, 蕈, 菌子, 蘑菇, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 蘑菇, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
