さつまいも

さつまいも
noun
sweet potato
food
1. sweet potato
A starchy root vegetable with sweet flesh, widely grown and eaten in Japan.
焼(や)きいもにはさつまいもを使(つか)う。
Sweet potatoes are used for yaki-imo (roasted sweet potatoes).
秋(あき)になると、さつまいもがおいしくなる。
Sweet potatoes become delicious in autumn.
子(こ)どもたちが畑(はたけ)でさつまいも掘(ほ)りを楽(たの)しんでいた。
The children were enjoying digging up sweet potatoes in the field.

Written in kanji as 薩摩芋(さつまいも). Named after 薩摩(さつま) (present-day Kagoshima Prefecture), through which the sweet potato was introduced to Japan.

Related words

  • 焼(や)きいも: roasted sweet potato
  • 大学芋(だいがくいも): candied sweet potato
  • スイートポテト: sweet potato dessert
  • さつまいもの天(てん)ぷら: sweet potato tempura

Culture: A beloved autumn delicacy. Sweet potato digging (いも掘(ほ)り) is a classic activity at kindergartens and elementary schools.

Related Words

Related: じゃがいも (potato)
general
Added 2026.2.7 15:48 · Revised 2026.10.9 9:19
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