木薯淀粉
mùshǔ diànfěn
Tapioca starch in Chinese is 木薯淀粉 (mùshǔ diànfěn).
The term refers to the very fine powder derived from the cassava root used in cooking.
Meaning: a very fine powder derived from the cassava root, used in cooking (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The term is composed of 木薯 (mùshǔ) meaning 'cassava' and 淀粉 (diànfěn) meaning 'starch'.
Which one should you use?
The shortened form 木薯粉 (mùshǔ fěn) is frequently used in cooking and grocery contexts to refer to the same substance.
How do you pronounce it?
mùshǔ diànfěn
Did you know?
- The term 西米 (xīmǐ) is often used for tapioca or sago pearls in sweet soups. It literally means 'Western rice', as the pearls were historically viewed as a foreign version of rice.
- In Chinese, the word for cassava 木薯 describes the plant as a 'wood potato'. This name reflects the plant's combination of a woody stem and a root that resembles a potato.
- The character 淀 (diàn) in 淀粉 (diànfěn) was originally used to describe the sediment or dregs that settle at the bottom of a liquid.
Examples in context
- 做珍珠奶茶需要木薯淀粉。Zuò zhēnzhū nǎichá xūyào mùshǔ diànfěn.Making bubble tea requires tapioca starch.
- 这种木薯淀粉非常细腻。Zhè zhǒng mùshǔ diànfěn fēicháng xìnì.This type of tapioca starch is very fine.
- 请帮我买一包木薯淀粉。Qǐng bāng wǒ mǎi yī bāo mùshǔ diànfěn.Please help me buy a bag of tapioca starch.
Example conversation
In a kitchen while preparing dessert.
- 佳怡 Jiayi志强，家里还有木薯淀粉吗？Zhìqiáng, jiālǐ hái yǒu mùshǔ diànfěn ma?Zhiqiang, do we still have tapioca starch at home?
- 志强 Zhiqiang好像快用完了。Hǎoxiàng kuài yòng wán le.It seems we are almost out.
- 佳怡 Jiayi那我们现在去超市买吧。Nà wǒmen xiànzài qù chāoshì mǎi ba.Then let's go to the supermarket to buy some now.
- 志强 Zhiqiang好的，我这就准备一下。Hǎo de, wǒ zhè jiù zhǔnbèi yīxià.Okay, I will get ready now.
