龙眼 (lóngyǎn): longan (fruit)

Measure Word

一颗龙眼 kē

Xiàtiān de lóngyǎn yòu tián yòu duōzhī.

Summer longans are sweet and juicy.

Māma dùn le yī guō lóngyǎn hóngzǎo tāng.

Mom stewed a pot of longan and red date soup.

memory

龙 (dragon) + 眼 (eye). Peel the beige shell and the white flesh around the black seed really does look like a dragon's eyeball.

culture

Dried longan (桂圆 guìyuán) is used in TCM and tonic soups to 'nourish blood' and 'calm the spirit'. 龙眼 is the fresh fruit, 桂圆 usually the dried form.

龙 lóng

眼 yǎn