HSK · Level 22
135 words
Chinese word
莲子
Pronunciation
Pinyinlián zi
Meaning
- nounlotus seed
Example
妈妈常用莲子煮粥。mā mā cháng yòng lián zi zhǔ zhōu
Mom often uses lotus seeds to make porridge.
More examples
很多老年人喜欢用莲子心泡茶。hěn duō lǎo nián rén xǐ huān yòng lián zi xīn pào chá
Many older people like to brew tea with lotus seed germ.
Core concept
A small lotus-pod seed that moves from the plant into the kitchen as a storable food ingredient.
Common phrases
莲子心lián zi xīn
lotus seed germ
熬莲子粥áo lián zi zhōu
make lotus seed porridge
Similar words
种子zhǒng zi: A tiny reproductive part of a plant that may sprout and produce a new plant.
莲子仁lián zi rén: The white kernel left after the core is removed from a lotus seed, used in cooked dishes and sweets.
莲蓉lián róng: A smooth sugary lotus-seed mixture used as the filling inside cakes and other pastries.
Definition in Chinese
莲子是莲蓬内的可食用种子，成熟后常晒干保存，既可作为烹饪材料也可入中药，常见用法为煮粥或做甜汤。lián zi shì lián péng nèi de kě shí yòng zhǒng zi chéng shú hòu cháng shài gàn bǎo cún jì kě zuò wéi pēng rèn cái liào yě kě rù zhōng yào cháng jiàn yòng fǎ wèi zhǔ zhōu huò zuò tián tāng
Word origin
The compound 莲子 (liánzi, "lotus seed") joins the name of the lotus with a component meaning seed, directly reflecting the seed inside the lotus pod.
Usage tips
- English labels may call products made from it lotus-seed paste, so the word can still matter when the ingredient no longer looks like a seed.
Related words
- 莲子心lián zi xīnlotus seed germnoun
- 莲子仁lián zi rénlotus seed kernelnoun