薯
potato
Strokes16
Readings
On'yomi
- ショ
Kun'yomi
- いも
Meaning
薯 centers on the potato as a starchy tuber, especially in compound words for potato varieties.
Most common words using 薯
- 薯蕷とろろ
grated yam
- 馬鈴薯ばれいしょ
potato (Solanum tuberosum)
- 自然薯じねんじょ
Japanese yam (Dioscorea japonica)
- 参薯しんしょ
water yam (Dioscorea alata); winged yam; purple yam
- 大薯だいじょ
water yam (Dioscorea alata); winged yam; purple yam
- 田薯でんしょ
water yam (Dioscorea alata); winged yam; purple yam
- 真薯しんじょ
fish cake
- 蕃薯ばんしょ
sweet potato
- 薯蕷汁とろろじる
grated yam soup
- 馬鈴薯澱粉ばれいしょでんぷん
potato starch
Study
Etymology
薯 combines the plant radical 艹 with 署, which likely contributes the sound. The character was created to represent the potato plant.
Meaning mnemonic
The grass radical 艹 sits above 署, like a potato plant growing above the ground with its tubers hidden below.
Reading mnemonic
For ショ, imagine a potato being thrown into a show: show -> ショ, and the potato lands on stage.