蘿蔔 / 萝卜
luóbo
The English word "radish" is 蘿蔔 / 萝卜 (luóbo) in Chinese. Wiktionary also lists 菜頭 / 菜头 (càitóu).
Meaning: edible root (noun)
Ways to say it
| Chinese | Romanization (Wiktionary) | Note |
|---|---|---|
| 蘿蔔 / 萝卜 | luóbo | |
| 菜頭 / 菜头 | càitóu | Taiwan |
The term refers to the edible root vegetable known as a radish.
Which one should you use?
While 蘿蔔 / 萝卜 is the standard term for radish, 菜頭 / 菜头 is a regional variation.
Is it said differently in some regions?
菜頭 / 菜头 is used in Taiwan.
How do you pronounce it?
luóbo
Did you know?
- The term 蘿蔔 / 萝卜 is believed to share an ancient, distant root with the Proto-Indo-European word for 'turnip', suggesting a deep linguistic connection across Eurasia.
- In Chinese culture, the 蘿蔔 is often linked to the phrase 'the radish is more potent than ginseng' to highlight its health benefits.
- While the English word 'radish' usually evokes a small red vegetable, 蘿蔔 most often refers to the large white Daikon radish in China.
Example sentences for Chinese are not verified yet.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “radish” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 蘿蔔, CC BY-SA 4.0.
