きんぴらごぼう

き

ん

ぴ

ら

ご

ぼ

う

Meanings

noun

kinpira gobō; braised burdock root

usually written using kana alonefood / cooking

A classic Japanese side dish of julienned burdock root (and sometimes carrot) sautéed and simmered in a sweet-savory soy sauce and sugar mixture. Often served as a bento item or home-style accompaniment.

今日きょうのお弁べん当とうにはきんぴらごぼうが入はいっている。
Today's bento includes kinpira gobō.
母ははが作つくるきんぴらごぼうは、ご飯はんによく合あう。
The kinpira gobō my mother makes goes really well with rice.

Kanji

金gold
平even, flat, peace
牛cow
蒡burdock

Related words

金きん平ぴら
Refers to the cooking style (sautéed and simmered in soy sauce and sugar) or to a legendary strongman; きんぴらごぼう is the specific dish made with burdock root.
牛ご蒡ぼう
Burdock root, the main ingredient. きんぴらごぼう is one of the most common preparations.

Built from

きんぴら+ごぼう

Written forms

金平牛蒡きんぴらごぼう
Full kanji spelling; rarely used in practice. The word is usually written in kana.
キンピラゴボウ
kana-only spelling
Katakana spelling, sometimes used for emphasis or in menus.
金きん平ぴらごぼう
Mixed kanji-kana spelling; occasionally seen.

Etymology

The name combines 金平 (kinpira), from the legendary strongman Sakata no Kintoki (often depicted as robust and energetic), and 牛蒡 (gobō, burdock root). The dish is said to be named for its hearty, invigorating qualities.