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蕷 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
蕷yùyamx, 17 strokes, radical 艹
yù(yu4) T4
  1. 1yam
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

蕷yù(yu4)

The character 蕷 (yù) refers specifically to 'yam', a starchy tuber widely consumed in various cuisines. It is often used in dishes for its texture and nutritional value, particularly in Asian cooking. While it might not be as commonly used as other food-related characters, it is significant in culinary contexts.

Strokes17Radical艹
Cultural Note

Yams are important in Chinese cuisine, often used in traditional dishes, especially during festivals and celebrations. They symbolize abundance and are believed to have health benefits in traditional Chinese medicine.

Memory Tip

Imagine a delicious dish made with yams, represented by the character 蕷. The two components: the left side (艹) resembles grass or plants, suggesting it is a plant-based food, while the right side (余) sounds like 'yu', linking the pronunciation to the word yam. Picture a yam sprouting from the ground, growing lush and green!

Meanings of 蕷

yù(yu4)
1yam
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 蕷

蕷Simplified
17Strokes
艹Radical
非语素字non-morpheme character (n-m.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 蕷

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Podcast: 蕷

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AI Study Notes for 蕷

Usage Notes

When using 蕷, remember it is a more formal or literary term for yam, so it may not be used in everyday conversation. Common mistakes include confusing it with other tubers like 土豆 (tǔdòu, potato) or referring to it in contexts that imply other root vegetables. Be sure to use it specifically for yams.

HSK Study Tips

Although 蕷 is not on the HSK list, it can be linked to food vocabulary at higher levels. Students should focus on related food characters and their uses in cooking and cultural dishes, enhancing their culinary vocabulary.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 蕷 with other similar characters, such as 甜薯 (tiánshǔ, sweet potato) or 土豆 (potato). It's important to remember that 蕷 specifically denotes yam and not other root vegetables.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 蕷

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Etymology of 蕷

Formation Typepictophonetic
六书 ClassificationPhono-semantic (形声字)~80-90% of characters
Memory Hint

plant

Semantic (meaning)艹
+
Phonetic (sound)預
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 蕷

  1. 1The meaning half艹 carries the sense.
  2. 2The sound half預 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
  3. 3The giveawayplant
  4. 4On the record aspictophonetic.

Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.

Want the full history of 蕷? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.

Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.
Exercise 1 of 1

Character Formation Type

What type of character formation is 蕷?

Decomposition of 蕷

IDS Structure⿱艹預
蕷Full Character
=
艹cao3
top
預yu4
bottom
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 蕷?

How to say yam in Chinese

“yam” in Chinese is蕷yù

The character 蕷 (yù) refers specifically to 'yam', a starchy tuber widely consumed in various cuisines. It is often used in dishes for its texture and nutritional value, particularly in Asian cooking. While it might not be as commonly used as other food-related characters, it is significant in culinary contexts.

When to use 蕷

When using 蕷, remember it is a more formal or literary term for yam, so it may not be used in everyday conversation. Common mistakes include confusing it with other tubers like 土豆 (tǔdòu, potato) or referring to it in contexts that imply other root vegetables. Be sure to use it specifically for yams.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 蕷 with other similar characters, such as 甜薯 (tiánshǔ, sweet potato) or 土豆 (potato). It's important to remember that 蕷 specifically denotes yam and not other root vegetables.

Write 蕷

蕷

Practice writing 蕷 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Word Family of 蕷

Words Containing This Character2
薯蓣Chinese yam (Dioscorea opposita)薯蕷
蓣yùChinese yam (Dioscorea opposita)蕷
Exercise 1 of 2

Compound Meaning

What does 薯蓣 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 蕷

蕷 specifically refers to yam, while 土豆 refers to potatoes. Both are tubers but are used differently in cooking.

Jason Recommends

Not sure what to learn after 蕷?

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