トロロアオイ

also: おうしょっき · とろろ

ト

ロ

ア

オ

イ

Meanings

noun

sunset hibiscus; Hibiscus manihot

usually written using kana alone

A plant species; the name is usually written in kana. The root mucilage is used in making Japanese paper (washi).

トロロアオイの根ねから採とれる粘ねん液えきは、和わ紙し作づくりに使つかわれる。
The mucilage obtained from the roots of sunset hibiscus is used in making Japanese paper.
庭にわにトロロアオイが咲さいている。
Sunset hibiscus is blooming in the garden.

See all 3 example sentences ›

Kanji

黄yellow
蜀green caterpillar, Szechwan
葵hollyhock

Written forms

トロロアオイUsage67%
kana-only spelling
Katakana spelling is common for this plant name; usually written in kana.
黄蜀葵Usage33%
- とろろあおい
  Kanji spelling; rarely used in modern writing. The reading おうしょっき is also possible for this form.
- おうしょっき
  Alternate on'yomi reading for 黄蜀葵; very rare.
- とろろ
  Abbreviated reading とろろ for 黄蜀葵; rare and potentially confusing with とろろ (grated yam).
黄葵とろろあおい
Abbreviated kanji spelling; rarely used.
とろろあおい
Hiragana spelling; also common.
とろろ
おうしょっき

Etymology

The Japanese name とろろあおい likely derives from the mucilaginous texture (とろろ) of the root, resembling grated yam, combined with あおい (hollyhock/mallow). The kanji 黄蜀葵 are Chinese-derived characters for the plant.