藙 (yì) - Aromatic prickly ash & Chinese pepper plant (Zanthoxylum species), used as a

藙Tone 4

yì ｜ 18 strokes ｜ radical:

一懿

藙 · yì

Aromatic prickly ash;

Chinese pepper plant (Zanthoxylum species), used as a spice in Chinese cuisine.

Aromatic prickly ashChinese pepper plant (Zanthoxylum species), used as a

Usage highlights

Sichuan pepperChinese prickly ashpeppercornsnumbing spicepepper treepepper oil

Synonyms

  • 花椒— Sichuan pepper (more common term)
  • 川椒— Sichuan pepper (regional name)

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • The dish is seasoned with Sichuan pepper (花椒).
  • This recipe calls for Chinese prickly ash (藙).
  • The numbing sensation comes from the pepper (麻 from 藙).
  • We need to buy some Sichuan peppercorns (藙子).

Collocations

  • Sichuan pepper(花椒)
  • Chinese prickly ash(藙)
  • peppercorns(藙子)
  • numbing spice(麻藙)
  • pepper tree(藙树)
  • pepper oil(藙油)

Idioms

  • As pungent as Sichuan pepper(辛辣如藙)
  • Pepper and cinnamon(藙桂)
  • The numbing taste of pepper(藙麻之味)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • Historically used in Chinese medicine for its warming properties and digestive benefits.
  • An essential spice in Sichuan cuisine, known for creating the characteristic 'mala' (numbing-spicy) sensation.
  • Mentioned in ancient Chinese texts as a valuable culinary and medicinal herb.

FAQ