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noun

ginseng

JIHN-sehng

Ginseng (noun) means a plant with a forked, root that is dried and used in traditional medicine and supplements, believed to boost energy. Example: “She drinks ginseng tea every morning for an energy boost.”

noun
1
A plant with a forked, root that is dried and used in traditional medicine and supplements, believed to boost energy.
"She drinks ginseng tea every morning for an energy boost."
"The supplement contains an extract of Korean ginseng."

How to use ginseng

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA medicinal root, popular in East Asian traditional medicine and modern supplements, said to increase energy and vitality.

Common pairings
ginseng root ginseng tea Korean ginseng

Word forms

ginsengs plural

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Test yourself on “ginseng” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage

Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

She drinks _____ tea every morning for an energy boost.

Etymology

Borrowed from a Chinese term (via Hokkien) meaning roughly "man root", describing the root's human-like forked shape.

Origin: Chinese

nin-sin

Frequently asked questions

What does “ginseng” mean?

The word “ginseng” means a plant with a forked, root that is dried and used in traditional medicine and supplements, believed to boost energy. In plain terms, a medicinal root, popular in East Asian traditional medicine and modern supplements, said to increase energy and vitality.

How do you pronounce “ginseng”?

“Ginseng” is pronounced JIHN-sehng (/ˈd͡ʒɪnsɛŋ/ in IPA).

How do you use “ginseng” in a sentence?

Here is “ginseng” used in a sentence: “She drinks ginseng tea every morning for an energy boost.”

What part of speech is “ginseng”?

“Ginseng” is a noun.

Where does the word “ginseng” come from?

The word “ginseng” comes from Chinese. Borrowed from a Chinese term (via Hokkien) meaning roughly "man root", describing the root's human-like forked shape.

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