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March 24, 2026
薯shǔ(shu3)
薯 (shǔ) refers to root vegetables such as yams or potatoes, commonly used in various Chinese dishes. It is often found in contexts involving food preparation or gardening. The character can denote several types of tubers, highlighting its importance in Chinese cuisine.
Strokes16Radical艹Frequency#7309DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In China, sweet potatoes (红薯, hóngshǔ) and yams are staple foods, especially during autumn and winter, often featured in traditional dishes and street food.
Memory Tip
Imagine a 'shoo' (shǔ) of delicious yams dancing in a garden. The radical 艹 (cǎo) on top hints at its plant origin, while the bottom component resembles a 'root' anchoring the tuber firmly in the ground.
Meanings of 薯
shǔ(shu3)
1yam, tuber, potato
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 薯
薯Simplified
16Strokes
艹Radical
状态词stative word (stat.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
Podcast: 薯
Podcast: 薯
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AI Study Notes for 薯
Quick Contrast
地瓜 (dìguā) - use 薯 when referring to a broader category of root vegetables, while 地瓜 specifically denotes sweet potatoes.
Usage Notes
薯 is often used in combination with other characters, such as 土豆 (tǔdòu) for potato. Be cautious with tones; mispronouncing shǔ as shù (树, tree) can lead to misunderstandings. It's generally informal, suitable for cooking contexts.
HSK Study Tips
As students progress, they should connect 薯 with other food-related vocabulary at HSK Level 2, such as 米 (mǐ, rice) and 面 (miàn, noodles). Focus on pronunciation and context to enhance their culinary vocabulary.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 薯 with other vegetable-related words, such as 菜 (cài, vegetable). For example, saying '我喜欢薯' (I like shǔ) without context may sound odd; it's better to specify what type of tuber you like.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 薯
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2The sound half署 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
3The giveawayplant
4On the record aspictophonetic.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 薯? 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 薯?
Decomposition of 薯
IDS Structure⿱艹署
薯Full Character
=
艹cao3
top
署shu3
bottom
Exercise 1 of 2
Identify the Components
Which of these is a component of 薯?
How to say yam, tuber, potato in Chinese
“yam, tuber, potato” in Chinese is薯shǔ
薯 (shǔ) refers to root vegetables such as yams or potatoes, commonly used in various Chinese dishes. It is often found in contexts involving food preparation or gardening. The character can denote several types of tubers, highlighting its importance in Chinese cuisine.
When to use 薯
薯 is often used in combination with other characters, such as 土豆 (tǔdòu) for potato. Be cautious with tones; mispronouncing shǔ as shù (树, tree) can lead to misunderstandings. It's generally informal, suitable for cooking contexts.
薯 or something close to it
地瓜 (dìguā) - use 薯 when referring to a broader category of root vegetables, while 地瓜 specifically denotes sweet potatoes.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 薯 with other vegetable-related words, such as 菜 (cài, vegetable). For example, saying '我喜欢薯' (I like shǔ) without context may sound odd; it's better to specify what type of tuber you like.
Write 薯
薯
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Practice writing 薯 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar Patterns of 薯
薯 carries one core meaning. Below you'll find the patterns that show how it combines with other words, plus example sentences pulled directly from native usage.
Exercise 1 of 4
Complete the Sentence
马铃____仍然是最受欢迎的食物，其次是白面包。
Potatoes are still the most popular food, followed by white bread.
Example Sentences for 薯 (10)
Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
马铃薯仍然是最受欢迎的食物，其次是白面包。
mǎ líng shǔ réng rán shì zuì shòu huān yíng de shí wù， ， qí cì shì bái miàn。
Potatoes are still the most popular food, followed by white bread.
