Chinese yam
- noun
:
ñame chino
- Gardeners appreciate the Chinese yam for its attractive leaves as well as its edible roots.
Examples
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I bought some Chinese yam at the market.
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The Chinese yam can be cooked in soups and stews for its mild flavor and nutritional value.
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Some health food stores carry powdered Chinese yam used in traditional herbal remedies.
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Have you ever tried Chinese yams in a stir-fry?
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In many Chinese dishes, Chinese yam adds a unique flavor and texture.
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She enjoys making stir-fry with Chinese yam and assorted vegetables.
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The recipe calls for sliced Chinese yam to be included for extra nutrition.
Synonyms
26
1.0
A large starchy underground root that people eat in warm countries
A Chinese climbing vine grown for its edible roots and attractive leaves
A climbing plant from China that has glossy heart-shaped leaves that smell of cinnamon and edible tubers
A tropical vine that makes large edible roots used for food
A climbing or twining plant with starchy tubers grown as yams in tropical regions
Surface Forms
Morphology
The phrase is a straightforward adjective + noun composition: 'Chinese' specifies origin/cultural association and 'yam' names the starchy root, so a learner who knows both words will infer it denotes a yam from China. This literal, referential relationship is common across languages and follows regular English modification patterns, making the meaning immediately transparent.
Etymology
Chinese yam comes from a simple image: yam means the edible 'root' and Chinese shows it comes from China. So Chinese yam now refers to the climbing plant and its edible root that people grow and cook.