Definitions

suàn (noun) garlic

Etymology phono-semantic

herb

Semantic: Phonetic:

About

The character "蒜" (suàn), meaning garlic, is constructed from the grass radical "艹" atop two instances of the character "示". This structure is etymologically significant, as the double "示" does not relate to its modern meaning of "to show" but rather phonetically suggests the clustered, bulbous nature of the garlic plant, with the radical indicating its classification as a vegetable. The traditional form of the character is identical to this, as it was not subject to simplification. Its core meaning has consistently referred to the garlic plant and its bulb from its earliest recorded use to the present day.

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.