Definitions

suàn (noun) garlic

Etymology phono-semantic

herb

Semantic: Phonetic:

About

蒜 is a phono-semantic compound denoting the pungent bulbous plant used in cooking. Its semantic radical 艹 (grass) classifies it as a herbaceous plant, while the lower component 祘 provides the phonetic element. The character’s meaning has remained consistent throughout its history, referring specifically to the entire plant and its cloves for culinary flavoring, without extending to abstract or secondary definitions.

Etymology Hide

Seal etymology image
Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)
Traditional Modern
Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

我喜欢吃大

Wǒ xǐhuān chī dàsuàn.

I like to eat garlic.

可以调味。

Dàsuàn kěyǐ tiáowèi.

Garlic can be used for seasoning.

妈妈买了许多

Māma mǎile xǔduō suàn.

Mom bought a lot of garlic.

蓉扇贝很好吃。

Suànróng shànbèi hěn hào chī.

Garlic scallops are delicious.

对身体有好处。

Chī suàn duì shēntǐ yǒu hǎochù.

Eating garlic is good for health.

这道菜需要加末。

Zhè dào cài xūyào jiā suànmò.

This dish needs to add minced garlic.

的价格最近上涨了。

Suàn de jiàgé zuìjìn shàngzhǎng le.

The price of garlic has risen recently.

种植大需要肥沃的土壤。

Zhòngzhí dàsuàn xūyào féiwò de tǔrǎng.

Growing garlic requires fertile soil.