About
The character "椒" originated in early Chinese texts as a term for aromatic trees or shrubs, particularly those bearing pungent berries, and its structure is a phono-semantic compound with the semantic component "木" indicating its plant category and the phonetic component "叔" providing an ancient pronunciation cue. Over centuries, the meaning shifted from a broader reference to fragrant plants to a more specific designation for pepper, first applied to native varieties such as Sichuan pepper and later encompassing chili peppers following their diffusion into the region. The character's form has consistently retained these components, with "木" underscoring its botanical nature and "叔" serving as its phonetic marker throughout its historical usage.
Etymology Hide
Example Sentences Hide
辣椒是红色的。
我在菜里放了花椒。
四川菜常用花椒调味。
辣椒酱的味道很独特。
虽然辣椒很辣，但是很多人爱吃。
花椒的麻味让舌头感觉很有趣。
辣椒素是辣椒中的辣味成分。
在烹饪中，花椒和辣椒的搭配能产生丰富的层次感。