山药 (shānyao) · Chinese yam

Meanings

1 Chinese yam
2 Dioscorea polystachya (edible and medicinal root)

About the ingredient

蔬菜 Vegetables · In season: autumn and winter

A long root with pale brown skin and crisp white flesh that turns slippery when cut; handling it can make bare hands itch. It is stir-fried, added to soups, or steamed and topped with a sweet berry sauce.

Also called 淮山

Used in 4 dishes

拔丝山药 básī shānyào

木耳炒山药 mù'ěr chǎo shānyào

四神汤 sìshéntāng

桂花山药 guìhuā shānyào

Characters

Examples

HSK 7-9

山药排骨汤很滋补。

Shānyao páigǔ tāng hěn zībǔ.

Chinese yam and pork rib soup is very nourishing.

HSK 7-9

山药有健脾养胃的作用。

Shānyao yǒu jiànpí yǎngwèi de zuòyòng.

Chinese yam strengthens the spleen and nourishes the stomach.

Tips

culture

山药 is both a food and a traditional Chinese medicine ingredient, prized for its slippery texture and believed benefits to digestion, lungs, and kidneys. It is considered a classic tonic food (补品) and is a staple of winter soups.