Definition

1. Noun:
   • Vietnamese coriander, laksa leaf, or hot mint: A culinary herb (Persicaria odorata) with a strong, pungent, and slightly spicy flavor, commonly used in Vietnamese cuisine.
   • The plant itself: Refers to the herbaceous plant that produces these aromatic leaves.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • Món cháo lòng này cần có răm. (This pork organ congee needs Vietnamese coriander.)
  • Răm thường được ăn kèm với trứng vịt lộn. (Vietnamese coriander is often eaten with balut.)
  • Mẹ tôi trồng răm trong chậu ở ban công. (My mother grows răm in a pot on the balcony.)

Advanced Usage

• "thuốc răm": A traditional medicinal preparation using this herb.
  • Ông bà xưa hay dùng thuốc răm để chữa đầy bụng. (Our ancestors often used a răm preparation to treat indigestion.)

Variants and Related Words

• Rau răm: The more common and full name for the herb, meaning " vegetable/herb". This is the term most often used.
  • Tôi cần mua một mớ rau răm. (I need to buy a bunch of Vietnamese coriander.)

Synonyms

• Persicaria odorata: The scientific/botanical name.
• Laksa leaf: Common name in Singapore and Malaysia.
• Hot mint: A descriptive English name referencing its pungent, mint-like quality.

Notes on Meaning

• The word "răm" is almost exclusively used in the context of the herb. It is a shortened form of "rau răm".
• It is a specific ingredient and is not used metaphorically or in abstract senses. Its primary meaning is the herb itself.

1. Fragrant khotweed