芋 means “potato, tuber”

いも · imo

Also: taro, yam

Kun'yomi (Japanese reading)

いも

On'yomi (Chinese reading)

ウ

JLPT N1 · Taught in secondary school · 6 strokes

The story

A plant (艹) over 于, a stem bending at its base: picture a stalk leading down to something fat under the soil. 芋 is a potato or tuber, 焼き芋 the roasted sweet potatoes sold from winter trucks, and 芋づる式, like pulling up a vine, is how one arrest leads to the next.

Used in 芋 (imo, potato/tuber), 焼き芋 (yakiimo, roasted sweet potato), and 里芋 (satoimo, taro)

More from Flavors & Brews

• 煎 roast
• 酎 shochu
• 辣 spicy
• 渋 astringent
• 旨 gist
• 熟 ripe
• 糖 sugar
• 滋 nourishing
• 酔 get drunk
• 釜 pot
• 漬 pickle
• 醸 brew

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Readings from KANJIDIC2, © EDRDG, CC BY-SA.