土豆 tǔdòu potato
potato; (Taiwan) peanut
How to remember 土豆: 土 earth + 豆 bean = potato.
Characters
How it is used
- 土豆 (tǔdòu) is the everyday Mainland Chinese word for potato - casual, spoken register.
- Watch the regional trap: in Taiwan 土豆 usually means peanut (what the Mainland calls 花生, huāshēng), while Mainland Chinese uses 马铃薯 (mǎlíngshǔ) as the formal word for potato.
- Common dish name: 土豆丝 (tǔdòusī, shredded potato) is a staple home-cooking dish.
- So context/region matters - assume potato on the Mainland, but double-check in Taiwanese speech.
Example sentences
- 把土豆切一下。 Bǎ tǔdòu qiè yīxià.Cut the potatoes.
- 我要几个土豆。 Wǒyào jǐgè tǔdòu.I want some potatoes.
- 你能给我土豆泥吗？ Nǐ néng gěi wǒ tǔdòuní ma?Could you pass me the mashed potatoes?