<p>The origin of the word is from acting as a soup thickener:</p>
<p>勾 = 调(tiáo)制 = to mix</p>
<p>芡 = 芡粉 = starch powder</p>
<p>Starch powder has often been added to soups to thicken up the soup.</p>
<hr />
<p>Another usage of starch powder, as you alluded to in your question, is to soften meat and make it less chewy. This is more of an extension from the above usage - as the starch powder is acting more like a coating and less like something that is being mixed in.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2022-08-22T13:32:49.203Z
Think you so very much for your detailed explanations!
Maurice
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2022-08-22T20:53:35.090Z
@Maurice Also the 芡 is the name of the plant from which the starch was originally made.. nowadays most chief use corn starch or potato starch but the word did not change.
Archeosudoerus
CC BY-SA 4.0
2022-08-22T23:45:02.490Z
Got it! Thank you, Archeosudoerus .
Maurice
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2022-08-22T05:33:27.547Z
2022-08-22T07:14:08.400Z
2022-08-22T07:14:08.400Z
Mou某
<p>I understand the meaning of &quot;勾芡&quot;, but I was not able to find the origin of this term. I am trying to learn why when &quot;勾&quot; and &quot;芡&quot; combine together, they mean velveting. Thank you in advance!</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2022-08-22T07:21:12.890Z
This comes from Chinese cooking where corn starch is added, (usually at the final stage), to thicken, "smoothern" dishes, resulting in a "velvety" texture, and the act of adding corn starch is termed 勾芡.
Wayne Cheah
CC BY-SA 4.0
2022-08-22T14:28:34.410Z
Note other varieties of Chinese don't natively use 勾 as the verb, e.g. Cantonese uses 打
Michaelyus
<meaning>
Why it's called 勾芡？
# Why it's called 勾芡？

(Asked by: username_0 on 2022-08-22)

I understand the meaning of "勾芡", but I was not able to find the origin of this term. I am trying to learn why when "勾" and "芡" combine together, they mean velveting. Thank you in advance!

**Tags:** meaning

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: This comes from Chinese cooking where corn starch is added, (usually at the final stage), to thicken, "smoothern" dishes, resulting in a "velvety" texture, and the act of adding corn starch is termed 勾芡.  
> **username_2**: Note other varieties of Chinese don't natively use 勾 as the verb, e.g. Cantonese uses 打  

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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_3 on 2022-08-22. Score: 3 | Accepted answer

The origin of the word is from acting as a soup thickener:

勾 = 调(tiáo)制 = to mix

芡 = 芡粉 = starch powder

Starch powder has often been added to soups to thicken up the soup.

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Another usage of starch powder, as you alluded to in your question, is to soften meat and make it less chewy. This is more of an extension from the above usage - as the starch powder is acting more like a coating and less like something that is being mixed in.

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: Think you so very much for your detailed explanations!  
> **username_4**: @username_0 Also the 芡 is the name of the plant from which the starch was originally made.. nowadays most chief use corn starch or potato starch but the word did not change.  
> **username_0**: Got it! Thank you, username_4 .  

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