人参 (rénshēn) · ginseng, Panax ginseng

Measure Word

一根人参 gēn

Meanings

1 ginseng
2 Panax ginseng

About the ingredient

调料 Seasonings

A pale, often forked root with a sweet, slightly bitter taste, sold fresh or dried, whole or sliced. It is simmered with chicken in soups; Chinese food lore counts it a strong tonic.

Characters

ginseng (specific reading for this plant)

Examples

HSK 6

她每天喝一杯人参茶来补气。

Tā měitiān hē yì bēi rénshēn chá lái bǔ qì.

She drinks a cup of ginseng tea every day to replenish her qi.

HSK 7-9

人参是传统中医中最珍贵的药材之一。

Rénshēn shì chuántǒng Zhōngyī zhōng zuì zhēnguì de yàocái zhīyī.

Ginseng is one of the most precious medicinal herbs in traditional Chinese medicine.

Tips

culture

人参 (ginseng) holds a revered place in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). The root often resembles a human figure - hence its name 人参 ('human root'). It is believed to tonify qi (元气), boost vitality, and strengthen the immune system. Wild ginseng (野山参) from Jilin and Korean varieties are considered most potent and can fetch extremely high prices.