ぎょうじゃにんにく

ぎょ

う

じゃ

に

ん

に

く

Meanings

1

noun

Alpine leek

usually written using kana alone

A perennial plant native to mountainous regions of Japan, with edible leaves and bulbs. Scientific name: Allium victorialis var. platyphyllum.

行ぎょう者じゃ忍辱にんにくは山さん菜さいとして知しら

れ

、

春はる

に

若わか

葉ば

を

摘つ

ん

で

食た

べる

。

Alpine leek is known as a wild mountain vegetable, and its young leaves are picked and eaten in spring.

行者忍辱ぎょうじゃにんにくの葉はには独どく特とくの香かおりがある。

The leaves of the Alpine leek have a distinctive aroma.

Kanji

行going, journey, carry out
者someone, person
忍endure, bear, put up with
辱embarrass, humiliate, shame
葫garlic

Built from

行ぎょう者じゃ+忍辱にんにく

Written forms

行者忍辱ぎょうじゃにんにく
Ateji kanji spelling; the word is usually written in kana.
行者葫ぎょうじゃにんにく
Alternate ateji kanji spelling; the word is usually written in kana.
ギョウジャニンニク
kana-only spelling
Katakana spelling; the word is usually written using kana alone.

Etymology

The name 行者忍辱 (ぎょうじゃにんにく) literally means 'ascetic's garlic'. The kanji 忍辱 is ateji, likely chosen for its phonetic value rather than meaning. The plant is named for its resemblance to garlic and its association with mountain ascetics (行者) who traditionally consumed it.