ニラ
にら
noun
Chinese chives, garlic chives
1.
Chinese chives, garlic chives
A flat-leafed herb with a mild garlic flavor, widely used in East Asian cooking. The leaves are typically cut and used in stir-fries, dumplings, and soups.
ニラレバ炒めが好きだ。
I like stir-fried chives and liver.
餃子の具にニラを入れると美味しい。
Adding Chinese chives to the dumpling filling makes it delicious.
ニラは栄養が豊富で、疲労回復にも効果があると言われている。
Chinese chives are nutritious and are said to be effective for recovering from fatigue.
WRITING:
Usually written in katakana as ニラ. The kanji 韮 exists but is rarely used.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- ニラレバ炒め (stir-fried chives and liver — a classic dish)
- ニラ玉 (chives and egg stir-fry)
- ニラを刻む (to chop chives)
CULTURAL NOTE:
ニラ is a staple in Japanese-Chinese cooking (中華料理). It has a distinctive smell, so some people avoid eating it before meetings. Despite this, it is valued for its nutritional benefits, particularly its vitamin and allicin content.