銀杏(ぎんなん)

ぎんなん
noun
ginkgo nut
foodnature
1. ginkgo nut
The edible seed of the 銀杏(いちょう) (ginkgo) tree, eaten in autumn. Has a distinctive smell when fresh but a delicate, slightly bitter flavor when roasted, and is a classic ingredient in 茶碗蒸(ちゃわんむ)し and other Japanese dishes.
秋(あき)になると銀杏(ぎんなん)が売(う)られる。
In autumn, ginkgo nuts go on sale.
銀杏(ぎんなん)を茶碗蒸(ちゃわんむ)しに入(い)れる。
Put ginkgo nuts in chawanmushi.
居酒屋(いざかや)で塩(しお)を振(ふ)った焼(や)き銀杏(ぎんなん)を注文(ちゅうもん)した。
At the izakaya, I ordered roasted ginkgo nuts with salt.

The same kanji 銀杏(ぎんなん) is read both ぎんなん (the nut) and 銀杏(いちょう) (the tree). 銀杏(ぎんなん) is a treasured autumn ingredient, but the fallen fruits on city streets are notorious for their strong, unpleasant smell.

Common collocations

  • 焼(や)き銀杏(ぎんなん): roasted ginkgo nuts
  • 銀杏(ぎんなん)ご飯(はん): rice cooked with ginkgo nuts
  • 銀杏(ぎんなん)拾(ひろ)い: gathering fallen ginkgo nuts

Watch out

Ginkgo nuts contain a toxin and should be eaten in small quantities (typically up to about 5–10 per adult per day); children should eat fewer.

Similar words

  • 銀杏(いちょう): ginkgo tree — same kanji, different reading; refers to the tree or its leaves
  • 栗(くり): chestnut — another autumn seed, sweeter, less unusual flavor

Related Words

Compare: 栗(くり) (chestnut)
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Added 2026.6.1 11:08 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:02
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