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艿 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
艿nǎitarox, 5 strokes, radical 艹
nǎi(nai3)nai T3
  1. 1taro
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March 24, 2026

艿nǎi(nai3)

The character 艿 (nǎi) refers specifically to taro, a starchy root vegetable that is often used in Chinese cuisine. It is commonly found in dishes such as soups and desserts, and is valued for its texture and nutritional benefits. In a broader context, it's associated with the character 芋 (yù), which also refers to root vegetables.

Strokes5Radical艹
Cultural Note

Taro is an important ingredient in many Chinese desserts, particularly in regions like Guangdong, where it's used in sweet soups and pastries. Its significance in traditional Chinese cuisine highlights the importance of root vegetables in Chinese agriculture.

Memory Tip

Imagine a giant taro root growing in a field. The character 艿 resembles a plant with roots (the 艾 radical) and the nǎi sound can remind you of 'nice' - think of how nice it is to dig up fresh taro! Visualize yourself harvesting taro to remember its meaning.

Meanings of 艿

nǎi(nai3)
1taro
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

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About 艿

艿Simplified
5Strokes
艹Radical
非语素字non-morpheme character (n-m.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 艿

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Podcast: 艿

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AI Study Notes for 艿

Usage Notes

When using 艿, it's important to note it is not commonly used in everyday conversation on its own, but rather appears in compound words like 芋艿 (yù nǎi). Learners should be cautious with pronunciation, as misplacing the tone can lead to confusion with other words.

HSK Study Tips

While 艿 is not part of the official HSK vocabulary, understanding it can enhance knowledge of food-related terms that may appear in HSK Level 3 or higher. Students should focus on related vocabulary, especially those concerning food and cooking.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 艿 with similar-sounding characters, leading to incorrect usage. For example, using 艿 when they mean 芋 (yù) can lead to misunderstandings about what type of vegetable is being discussed.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 艿

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Etymology of 艿

Formation Typepictophonetic
六书 ClassificationPhono-semantic (形声字)~80-90% of characters
Memory Hint

plant

Semantic (meaning)艹
+
Phonetic (sound)乃
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters
Exercise 1 of 1

Origin

艿 = 艹 + 乃. What kind of character does that make it?

Decomposition of 艿

IDS Structure⿱艹乃
艿Full Character
=
艹cao3
top
乃nai3
bottom
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 艿?

How to say taro in Chinese

“taro” in Chinese is艿nǎi

The character 艿 (nǎi) refers specifically to taro, a starchy root vegetable that is often used in Chinese cuisine. It is commonly found in dishes such as soups and desserts, and is valued for its texture and nutritional benefits. In a broader context, it's associated with the character 芋 (yù), which also refers to root vegetables.

When to use 艿

When using 艿, it's important to note it is not commonly used in everyday conversation on its own, but rather appears in compound words like 芋艿 (yù nǎi). Learners should be cautious with pronunciation, as misplacing the tone can lead to confusion with other words.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 艿 with similar-sounding characters, leading to incorrect usage. For example, using 艿 when they mean 芋 (yù) can lead to misunderstandings about what type of vegetable is being discussed.

Write 艿

艿

Practice writing 艿 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

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Word Family of 艿

Words Containing This Character1
艿nǎitaro

Frequently Asked Questions about 艿

You might say 芋艿很好吃 (yù nǎi hěn hǎo chī) which means 'Taro is very delicious.'

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