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藕 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
藕ǒulotus rootn, 18 strokes, radical 艹, rank #35387, Very Hard
藕ǒuroot of lotusunknown, 18 strokes, radical 艹, rank #35387, Very Hard
ǒu(ou3) T3
  1. 1lotus root
  2. 2root of lotus
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

藕ǒu(ou3)

藕 (ǒu) refers to the edible root of the lotus plant, commonly used in Chinese cuisine for its crunchy texture and ability to absorb flavors. It is often featured in stir-fries, soups, and salads, and is appreciated for both its taste and nutritional value.

Strokes18Radical艹Frequency#35387DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, lotus roots are not only prized for their culinary uses but also symbolize purity and enlightenment, as the lotus flower grows beautifully from muddy waters. They are often featured in traditional dishes, especially during festivals.

Memory Tip

Imagine a long, snakelike root that is submerged in water. The character 藕 resembles a lotus flower at the top, suggesting its connection to water and nature. The sound 'ǒu' can be remembered by picturing an 'owl' (ǒu) looking for food in muddy waters, hunting for lotus roots.

Meanings of 藕

ǒu(ou3)
1lotus root
2root of lotus
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 藕

藕Simplified
18Strokes
艹Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 藕

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Podcast: 藕

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AI Study Notes for 藕

Quick Contrast

莲藕 (lián ǒu) refers specifically to the lotus root, emphasizing its connection to the lotus plant, while 藕 (ǒu) can refer more generally to the root itself.

Usage Notes

藕 is typically used in the context of food and cooking. A common mistake is to confuse it with similar-sounding words; ensure you use it specifically for lotus root. This term is informal and often found in daily conversation or cooking contexts.

HSK Study Tips

While 藕 is not included in the HSK vocabulary list, it connects to HSK Level 2 and 3 food-related terms, such as 饭 (fàn - rice) and 菜 (cài - vegetables). Students should focus on recognizing it in menus and recipes, as it enhances their culinary vocabulary.

Common Mistakes

Learners often mispronounce 藕 as 'óu' instead of 'ǒu'. Additionally, some may confuse it with similar roots like 红薯 (hóngshǔ - sweet potato); remember that 藕 specifically refers to lotus root.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 藕

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Etymology of 藕

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

plant

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

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 藕

  1. 1The meaning half艹 carries the sense.
  2. 2The sound half耦 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 藕? 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 藕?

Decomposition of 藕

IDS Structure⿱艹耦
藕Full Character
=
艹cao3
top
耦ou3
bottom
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 藕?

How to say lotus root in Chinese

“lotus root” in Chinese is藕ǒu

藕 (ǒu) refers to the edible root of the lotus plant, commonly used in Chinese cuisine for its crunchy texture and ability to absorb flavors. It is often featured in stir-fries, soups, and salads, and is appreciated for both its taste and nutritional value.

When to use 藕

藕 is typically used in the context of food and cooking. A common mistake is to confuse it with similar-sounding words; ensure you use it specifically for lotus root. This term is informal and often found in daily conversation or cooking contexts.

藕 or something close to it

莲藕 (lián ǒu) refers specifically to the lotus root, emphasizing its connection to the lotus plant, while 藕 (ǒu) can refer more generally to the root itself.

What learners get wrong

Learners often mispronounce 藕 as 'óu' instead of 'ǒu'. Additionally, some may confuse it with similar roots like 红薯 (hóngshǔ - sweet potato); remember that 藕 specifically refers to lotus root.

Write 藕

藕

Practice writing 藕 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 藕

Words Containing This Character3
藕ǒuroot of lotus
莲藕lotus root蓮藕
藕断丝连lit. lotus roots may break, but the fiber remains joined (idiom); lovers part, but still long for one another藕斷絲連
Exercise 1 of 3

Compound Meaning

What does 藕 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 藕

Common dishes include lotus root stir-fry, soups, and salads, where it's often sliced thinly.

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