薏米 (yìmǐ) · Job's tears, coix seed

Meanings

1 Job's tears
2 coix seed

About the ingredient

粮食 Grains and noodles

Large, roundish, polished white grains with a groove. They are simmered in sweet soups and in braises such as chicken, or boiled in water that is then sweetened and drunk as a cloudy drink.

Also called 薏仁、薏仁米、薏苡仁

Used in 2 dishes

杂粮粥 záliángzhōu

四神汤 sìshéntāng

Characters

Examples

HSK 6

薏米要先泡几个小时再煮。

Yìmǐ yào xiān pào jǐ ge xiǎoshí zài zhǔ.

Job's tears should be soaked for a few hours before cooking.

HSK 7-9

妈妈煮了一锅红豆薏米粥。

Māma zhǔ le yì guō hóngdòu yìmǐ zhōu.

Mum cooked a pot of red bean and Job's tears congee.

Tips

culture

In traditional Chinese medicine 薏米 is a cooling grain said to clear 'dampness', 祛湿, so it goes into summer soups and drinks, often with red beans. It is also called 薏仁. English menus often call it 'pearl barley', but it is a different plant.