How to Write 芋 (yù) — Meaning “Taro”

Imagine a taro plant growing in a field, with a large leafy part represented by the 艹 (grass radical) on top. Underneath the leaves, the tuber is shaped like the letter 'y' and the rest of the 于 component looks like a small root. This picture helps link the plant radical to the taro root that people eat.

Write the top radical 艹 first, which consists of a horizontal stroke, then two vertical strokes (left then right). Then write the lower part 于: start with a horizontal stroke, then a horizontal hook, and finally a vertical stroke. Keep the entire character compact: the 艹 should be about one-third of the total height, and the 于 should be slightly wider than the top.

The character 艺 (yì, skill/art) has the same 艹 radical but the bottom part is 乙 (yǐ) instead of 于; visually it looks like a curvy stroke descending from the grass. 艻 (lè) is a rare character that also has 艹 on top but the bottom is 力 (lì, power); it looks like grass plus strength. In contrast, 芋 always means taro, with a clear 于 bottom that resembles a stem or root.

芋 is used mainly in food-related words like 芋头 (taro root) and 芋圆 (taro balls, a popular dessert in Taiwan and parts of China). Taro is a staple in many Asian cuisines and is also associated with the Mid-Autumn Festival season when taro is harvested. In some regions, the character appears in names of dishes or snacks, but it is not commonly used in daily conversation outside of cooking.

Common words containing 芋 include: 芋头 (yù tou) — Taro; 芋圆 (yù yuán) — Taro balls; 香芋 (xiāng yù) — taro.