花生

• Pinyin: huā shēng
• Hanzi breakdown: 花 = 艹 (grass) + 化 (change), flower; 生 = pictograph of sprouting plant, meaning to be born or grow

Meaning

Peanut; groundnut. A legume commonly eaten as a snack or used in cooking.

One of the most common snacks and cooking ingredients in Chinese cuisine. Used in many dishes and also processed into 花生酱 (peanut butter), 花生油 (peanut oil). The name literally means 'flower-born' because the plant flowers above ground but produces nuts below. Common collocations: 炒花生 (roasted peanuts), 煮花生 (boiled peanuts), 花生米 (peanut kernels).

Examples

1. 老北京人喝啤酒的时候，最爱配一碟煮花生当下酒菜。 Old Beijingers love having a plate of boiled peanuts as a snack when drinking beer.
2. 我对花生过敏，吃一点就会浑身起疹子。 I'm allergic to peanuts — even a little bit makes me break out in a rash all over.
3. 这道宫保鸡丁少了花生就不是那个味儿了。 This kung pao chicken just isn't the same without the peanuts.

Usage Guide

Context: food, cooking, snacks

Tone: casual

Do Say

• 来点花生配酒吧。(Let's have some peanuts with the drinks.)
• 你能吃花生吗？我怕你过敏。(Can you eat peanuts? I'm worried you might be allergic.)

Don't Say

• 把花生和坚果混为一谈 (Don't group peanuts with tree nuts when discussing allergies — they're different, though people may be allergic to both)

Origin & History

Called 花生 because the plant flowers above ground (花) but the fruit is born (生) underground. Also known as 落花生 (flower-dropping-born).

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal