50+ Phrases of Mushroom in Chinese: Names, Meanings, and Everyday Usage

Picture yourself in a bustling Chinese market, surrounded by vibrant displays of fresh produce. Among the colorful vegetables, you spot dozens of mushroom varieties—but can you tell the vendor which one you want? Or imagine browsing a Chinese recipe online, only to find mysterious characters like 香菇 and 金针菇 that leave you completely lost.

Learning about a mushroom in Chinese isn't just about memorizing one word—it's your gateway to navigating Chinese cuisine, understanding traditional medicine, and confidently communicating in everyday situations. Whether you're ordering at a restaurant in Beijing, shopping at an Asian grocery store, or simply expanding your Chinese vocabulary, knowing how to identify and discuss different mushroom types is a practical and valuable skill.

Mushroom in Chinese: 50+ Names, Types, and Key Vocabulary
Mushroom in Chinese: 50+ Names, Types, and Key Vocabulary

I. How to Say Mushroom in Chinese?

The word mushroom in Chinese is most commonly written and said as 蘑菇 (mógū). This is the general term used for edible mushrooms in daily speech, markets, or cooking.

In other contexts, such as traditional Chinese medicine or scientific discussions, mushrooms may also appear as:

  • 真菌 (zhēnjūn): fungi (scientific context)

  • 菌类 (jūnlèi): mushroom types or fungi as a category

For starters, if you just want to say "I love mushrooms," you’d say: 我喜欢蘑菇 (wǒ xǐhuan mógu).

II. Vocabulary about Types of Mushroom in Chinese

1. General Vocabulary of Mushroom in Chinese

When you begin exploring mushrooms in Chinese culture—both in cuisine and science—it helps to anchor your vocabulary with essential words. These give you context for more specific mushrooms later.

Key terms include:

No.

Mushroom in Chinese

Pinyin

English Translation

1

食用菌

shíyòng jūn

Edible fungi / Edible mushrooms

2

毒蘑菇

dú mógū

Poisonous mushroom / Toadstool

3

栽培蘑菇

zāipéi mógū

Cultivated mushrooms

4

野生蘑菇

yěshēng mógū

Wild mushrooms

5

鲜菇

xiān gū

Fresh mushrooms

6

干菇

gān gū

Dried mushrooms

7

采蘑菇

cǎi mógū

To pick/forage mushrooms

8

种蘑菇

zhòng mógū

To grow/farm mushrooms

These words allow you to pinpoint the condition, type, and usage of the mushroom you encounter.

2. Specific Types of Mushrooms

China has vast biodiversity, and this reflects in the range of mushrooms used in Chinese cuisine and medicine. Here's how to name some everyday mushrooms in the Chinese mushroom vocabulary domain:

Specific Types of Mushrooms
Specific Types of Mushrooms

No.

Mushroom in Chinese

Pinyin

English Translation

1

白蘑菇 / 双孢菇

bái mógū / shuāngbāogū

White button mushroom

2

黑蘑菇

hēi mógū

Black mushroom

3

红蘑菇 / 红菇

hóng mógū

Russula vinosa (Red mushroom)

4

黄蘑菇

huáng mógū

Yellow mushroom

5

褐色蘑菇 / 褐菇

hèsè mógū / hè gū

Cremini / Portobello mushroom

6

木耳

mù'ěr

Wood ear mushroom

7

黑木耳

hēi mù'ěr

Black wood ear

8

银耳 / 雪耳

yín'ěr / xuě’ěr

Snow fungus / White jelly mushroom

9

百灵菇

bǎilínggū

Bailing mushroom (King tuber oyster)

10

平菇

pínggū

Oyster mushroom

11

羊肚菇

yángdǔgū

Morel mushroom

12

猪肚菇

zhūdǔgū

Big-cup mushroom

13

球盖菇

qiúgàigū

Wine cap mushroom

14

真姬菇 / 蟹味菇

zhēnjīgū / xièwèigū

Shimeji / Beech mushroom

15

猴头菇

hóutóugū

Lion's mane mushroom

16

杏鲍菇

xìngbàogū

King oyster mushroom

17

滑菇 / 珍珠菇

huágū / zhēnzhūgū

Nameko mushroom

18

香菇

xiānggū

Shiitake mushroom

19

金针菇

jīnzhēngū

Enoki mushroom

20

金福菇

jīnfúgū

Tricholoma giganteum

21

灵芝菇

língzhīgū

Reishi mushroom / Lingzhi

22

笋菇

sǔngū

Termitomyces

23

鸡腿菇

jītuǐgū

Shaggy mane mushroom

24

草菇

cǎogū

Straw mushroom

25

珊瑚菇

shānhúgū

Coral mushroom / Golden oyster

26

秀珠菇

xiùzhūgū

Pearl mushroom

27

松露系列

sōng lù xì liè

Truffle series

28

黑松露

hēi sōnglù

Black truffle

29

白松露

bái sōnglù

White truffle

30

夏松露

xià sōnglù

Summer truffle

31

杏鲍菇

xìng bào gū

King trumpet mushroom

32

秀珍菇

xiùzhēn gū

Phoenix mushroom / Baby oyster

33

冬虫夏草

dōngchóng xiàcǎo

Cordyceps sinensis

For example, in a recipe, you might see: 请加入一把香菇和金针菇 (qǐng jiārù yì bǎ xiānggū hé jīnzhēngū) – “Please add a handful of shiitake and enoki mushrooms.”

3. Structure and Growth of Mushrooms

Understanding the anatomy of mushroom in Chinese helps you if you’re exploring mushroom farming or learning biology in Chinese. Here's vocabulary used to describe the parts and life cycle of a typical mushroom:

Structure and Growth of Mushrooms
Structure and Growth of Mushrooms

No.

Mushroom in Chinese

Pinyin

English Translation

1

菌盖

jùn gài

Mushroom cap (Pileus)

2

菌柄

jūn bǐng

Stem / Stalk (Stipe)

3

菌褶

jūn zhě

Gills (Lamella)

4

菌丝

jùn sī

Mycelium / Hyphae

5

孢子

bāozǐ

Spore

6

菌种

jūn zhǒng

Spawn / Mushroom culture

7

培养基

péiyǎng jī

Culture medium / Substrate

8

接种

jiē zhǒng

Inoculation

9

出菇

chū gū

Fruiting / Pinning

For example:
蘑菇通过孢子繁殖,菌丝在合适的环境生长 (Mógū tōngguò bāozǐ fánzhí, jūnsī zài héshì de huán jìng shēngzhǎng) – “Mushrooms reproduce by spores, and their mycelium grows in suitable conditions.”

Knowing these words can help you understand how mushrooms are cultivated or talked about in agriculture or medicinal literature.

III. Chinese Conversation Phrases about Mushroom in Chinese

Practicing full sentences involving mushrooms in the Chinese language helps you express your thoughts naturally and confidently. Below are practical examples for restaurants, markets, and daily chats:

No.

Chinese (Simplified)

Pinyin

English Translation

1

我要买一斤香菇。

Wǒ yào mǎi yī jīn xiānggū.

I want to buy 500g of shiitake mushrooms.

2

这种蘑菇能吃吗?

Zhè zhǒng mógū néng chī ma?

Is this type of mushroom edible?

3

这是什么品种的蘑菇?

Zhè shì shénme pǐnzhǒng de mógū?

What species of mushroom is this?

4

这个蘑菇怎么做最好吃?

Zhège mógū zěnme zuò zuì hǎochī?

What is the best way to cook this mushroom?

5

你会做蘑菇汤吗?

Nǐ huì zuò mógū tāng ma?

Do you know how to make mushroom soup?

6

蘑菇大概多久可以收获?

Mógū dàgài duōjiǔ kěyǐ shōuhuò?

Roughly how long until the mushrooms can be harvested?

7

这种蘑菇对身体有好处吗?

Zhè zhǒng mógū duì shēntǐ yǒu hǎochù ma?

Is this mushroom good for your health?

8

吃这种蘑菇有什么功效?

Chī zhè zhǒng mógū yǒu shénme gōngxiào?

What are the benefits/effects of eating this mushroom?

9

你喜欢吃什么蘑菇?

Nǐ xǐhuan chī shénme mógū?

What kind of mushrooms do you like to eat?

10

你最喜欢怎么做蘑菇?

Nǐ zuì xǐhuan zěnme zuò mógū?

What is your favorite way to prepare mushrooms?

Having these conversational tools gives you practical fluency—not just vocabulary knowledge. It allows you to navigate real-life scenarios with ease, particularly in Chinese-speaking regions where mushrooms are a staple food item.

IV. Conclusion

Whether you're a student, a chef, a travel enthusiast, or a language learner, understanding the mushroom in Chinese extends far beyond one word: it’s an entryway into Chinese cuisine, medicine, and everyday culture.

You’ve explored more than 50 terms and phrases, from basic vocabulary to mushroom anatomy and real-world usage. Keep practicing, and soon you’ll be able to navigate mushroom markets, read Chinese recipes, and even explain the difference between 香菇 and 金针菇 like a pro.

By mastering expressions around mushroom in Chinese language, you’re not just learning words—you’re tasting a linguistic and cultural experience that enriches your fluency.

 

 

Chloe
Product Content Admin

Hi I'm Chloe, and I am currently serving as an Product Content Administrator at Prep Education. With over five years of experience in independent online IELTS study and exam preparation, I am confident in my ability to support learners in achieving their highest possible scores.

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