山药
shānyao
The Chinese word for the edible root yam is 山药 (shānyao).
山药 refers specifically to the edible root of the yam.
Meaning: its edible root (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The word is a compound of 山, meaning mountain and 药, meaning medicine or herb.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Taiwan, people often use the term 芋头 to refer to yam.
How do you pronounce it?
shānyao
Did you know?
- Because the word 山药 literally means 'mountain medicine', you will often find it listed in the medicinal section of a traditional Chinese pharmacy rather than the produce aisle.
- If you are in Taiwan and ask for 'yam' using the word 芋头, you might actually receive taro, as the terminology for these tubers varies significantly by region.
- While 山药 is the standard term, some regions use the phrase 山药头 to describe the bulbous head of the root, treating the vegetable as if it has a human anatomy.
Examples in context
- 晚饭我们要吃炒山芋。We will eat stir-fried yam for dinner.
- 这家餐馆的山芋糕非常好吃。The yam cake at this restaurant is delicious.
- 我想买点山药。Wǒ xiǎng mǎi diǎn shānyao.I want to buy some yam.
- 这种山药很新鲜。Zhè zhǒng shānyao hěn xīnxiān.This kind of yam is very fresh.
- 山药可以炖汤。Shānyao kěyǐ dùn tāng.Yam can be stewed in soup.
Example conversation
At a local vegetable market.
- 伟 Wei晓雯，这儿的山药怎么样？Xiǎowén, zhèr de shānyao zěnmeyàng?Xiaowen, how is the yam here?
- 晓雯 Xiaowen看起来很不错，买一点吧。Kàn qǐlái hěn bùcuò, mǎi yīdiǎn ba.It looks quite good, let's buy some.
- 伟 Wei好的，那我们拿两个。Hǎo de, nà wǒmen ná liǎng gè.Okay, then let's take two.
- 晓雯 Xiaowen伟，你选得真快。Wěi, nǐ xuǎn de zhēn kuài.Wei, you choose very quickly.
