noun
wild chestnut; mountain chestnut
Refers to chestnuts that grow naturally in the mountains, as opposed to cultivated varieties. Often implies smaller size and a more rustic flavor.
秋になると、山栗を拾いに山へ行きます。
In autumn, I go to the mountains to gather wild chestnuts.
山栗は栽培された栗より小ぶりですが、味が濃いです。
Wild chestnuts are smaller than cultivated ones, but they have a richer flavor.
栗 is the general term for chestnut, including both wild and cultivated varieties. 山栗 specifically refers to wild chestnuts found in the mountains.
Compound of 山 (yama, 'mountain') and 栗 (kuri, 'chestnut'), literally 'mountain chestnut'. The reading やまぐり follows standard rendaku voicing.