蒓 (chún) - Water shield — an aquatic plant (Brasenia schreberi)

蒓Tone 2

chún ｜ 13 strokes ｜ radical:

橙丁

蒓 · chún

Water shield — an aquatic plant (Brasenia schreberi) with edible gelatinous leaves used in Chinese cuisine, particularly in soups.

Water shield — an aquatic plant (Brasenia schreberi)

Usage highlights

Water shield vegetableWater shield soupWater shield羹Fresh water shieldLake water shieldWater shield stem

Synonyms

  • 莼菜— water shield vegetable
  • 水葵— water sunflower (alternative name)

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • Water shield soup is a delicacy (莼菜羹).
  • The leaves have a slippery texture (莼菜叶).
  • This dish features water shield (莼菜料理).
  • Harvesting water shield plants (采摘莼菜).

Collocations

  • Water shield vegetable(莼菜)
  • Water shield soup(莼菜汤)
  • Water shield羹(莼菜羹)
  • Fresh water shield(鲜莼菜)
  • Lake water shield(湖莼)
  • Water shield stem(莼茎)

Idioms

  • Thinking of water shield soup and perch mince(莼羹鲈脍)
  • Water shield and perch nostalgia(莼鲈之思)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • Water shield has been a prized delicacy in Chinese cuisine since ancient times, mentioned in classical texts.
  • The plant is associated with the Jiangnan region and appears in literary references to gourmet food.
  • In Chinese culture, water shield symbolizes nostalgia and homesickness, particularly in the idiom '莼鲈之思'.

FAQ