芝麻 zhīma sesame (seed)
How to remember 芝麻: 芝 sesame + 麻 hemp = sesame (seed).
Characters
How it is used
- Sesame (seed) - 芝麻酱 (zhīmajiàng) sesame paste, 芝麻油 (zhīmayóu) sesame oil.
- Note the light tone zhīma; culturally a byword for tiny/trivial things - 芝麻小事 (a trifling matter), 芝麻绿豆 (petty stuff).
- Also 芝麻开门 = 'open sesame'.