noun
giant butterbur; Japanese sweet coltsfoot
A perennial plant native to Japan, with edible stalks and buds. Often used in cooking (e.g., tempura, simmered dishes). The plant is also known for its large leaves.
春になると、ふきのとうが顔を出す。
In spring, butterbur buds start to appear.
ふきを煮物にすると美味しい。
Butterbur is delicious when simmered.
Kanji form used especially in botanical or literary contexts. The reading ふふき is obsolete.
Rare variant kanji for butterbur.
Rare Chinese-derived kanji compound for butterbur.
Rare variant kanji for butterbur.
The word ふき is of native Japanese origin. The kanji 蕗 is a 国字 (kokuji, a kanji created in Japan) combining the grass radical 艹 with 路, possibly reflecting the plant's large leaves that resemble a path. The exact derivation is uncertain.