莲藕 (lián'ǒu) · lotus root

Measure Word

一节莲藕 jié

Meanings

1 lotus root

About the ingredient

蔬菜 Vegetables · In season: autumn and winter

The thick, jointed underground stem of the lotus, with a ring of air holes through its white flesh. Sliced, it stays crisp in stir-fries and vinegar-dressed cold dishes; it is also simmered for hours in soup with pork ribs.

Also called 藕、莲菜

Used in 2 dishes

麻辣香锅 málàxiāngguō

干锅虾 gānguōxiā

Characters

Examples

HSK 6

莲藕切片炒着吃最脆。

Lián'ǒu qiēpiàn chǎo zhe chī zuì cuì.

Lotus root is crispiest sliced and stir-fried.

HSK 7-9

排骨莲藕汤是广东名菜。

Páigǔ lián'ǒu tāng shì Guǎngdōng míngcài.

Spare-rib and lotus root soup is a famous Cantonese dish.

Tips

culture

The phrase 藕断丝连 ('the lotus root snaps but the threads remain') describes relationships that linger after a breakup - a poetic image built on the actual sticky white threads inside lotus root.