Definition

1. Noun:
   • Perilla: A plant (Perilla frutescens), specifically the purple-red variety, whose aromatic leaves are used as a herb and medicine in Vietnamese cuisine and traditional medicine.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • Lá tử tô có màu tím rất đẹp. (Perilla leaves have a very beautiful purple color.)
  • Canh chua nấu với tử tô rất thơm. (Sour soup cooked with perilla is very fragrant.)
  • Ông ấy uống nước lá tử tô để trị cảm. (He drinks perilla leaf water to treat a cold.)

Advanced Usage

• In botanical contexts, the term may be used to specify the purple, ruffled-leaf variety commonly known as "tử tô".

Variants and Related Words

• Tía tô (n): This is the more common and general name for the perilla plant in Vietnamese, encompassing both green and purple varieties. "Tử tô" often specifically denotes the purple-red type.
  • Tía tô xanh cũng được dùng phổ biến. (Green perilla is also commonly used.)

Synonyms

• Perilla: The standard English name for the plant.
• Shiso: The Japanese name for the plant, commonly used in international culinary contexts.
• Beefsteak plant: A common English name referring to the plant's appearance.

Related Idioms

• While there are no direct idioms with "tử tô", the herb is culturally associated with home remedies and comforting, traditional food.