萝卜

• Pinyin: luó bo
• Hanzi breakdown: 萝 = 艹 (plant radical) + 罗 (net, spreading); 卜 = ancient character representing a root

Meaning

Radish; a root vegetable widely consumed in Chinese cuisine, both raw and cooked. Common varieties include white radish (daikon) and red radish.

Extremely common in Chinese cooking. 白萝卜 (daikon/white radish) is used in stews, pickles, and soups. The proverb 萝卜白菜各有所爱 means 'different strokes for different folks.' Also related: 心里美萝卜 (sweet heart radish), 胡萝卜 (carrot).

Examples

1. 冬天炖羊肉时加入几块白萝卜，不仅能去腥增香，还能让汤头更加鲜甜清爽。 In winter, adding a few chunks of white radish when stewing lamb not only cuts the gamey smell and boosts the aroma, but also makes the broth sweeter and more refreshing.
2. 奶奶习惯用盐腌制萝卜条，做成小菜搭配白粥，清淡可口。 Grandma likes to salt-cure radish strips and serve them as a side dish with plain rice porridge—light and tasty.
3. 市场上各式各样的萝卜品种琳琅满目，白萝卜、胡萝卜和心里美萝卜各有不同的用途。 The market offers a wide variety of radishes; white radish, carrot, and watermelon radish each have different uses.

Usage Guide

Context: food, cooking, daily life, agriculture

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 江浙一带的传统腌萝卜工艺历史悠久，将萝卜切丝后用盐、糖和米醋调味，是当地家家户户常备的开胃小菜。(The traditional pickled radish craft of the Jiangnan region has a long history; radishes shredded and seasoned with salt, sugar, and rice vinegar are a common appetiser kept in every local household.)
• 白萝卜富含膳食纤维和多种维生素，中医认为其具有消食、化痰、顺气的功效，是物美价廉的日常蔬菜。(White radish is rich in dietary fibre and various vitamins; traditional Chinese medicine holds that it aids digestion, dissolves phlegm, and promotes the flow of qi — it is an affordable, high-quality everyday vegetable.)

Don't Say

• 混淆萝卜与胡萝卜 — 萝卜 refers to radish or daikon (white/pink root); 胡萝卜 means carrot (orange root); they are completely different vegetables despite sharing the character 卜

Origin & History

萝 = 艹 (plant radical) + 罗 (net/spread); 卜 = ancient character representing a tap root — a spreading plant with a tap root

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal