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红曲

hóng qūdictionary entry
DEFINITION CC-CEDICT
red yeast (so called, although it's actually a mold, not a yeast), a fermentation product created by culturing rice with the mold Monascus purpureus, producing red pigments and bioactive compounds, used in food for its color, as a flavor enhancer, and for its health benefits
Sources & editorial notes

Reference definitions: CC-CEDICT contributors and MDBG, CC BY-SA 4.0. Source release 2026-10-27T01:55:52Z. Imported 2026-10-27. Definition wording and meaning order are retained. Recognized pronunciation references are displayed with tone marks; the original source record is available below.

Source record: cd-8241560c5a1ec338. Source SHA-256: bbc4b27f26bee1a262f4d7939667a040c7857c7fc0200a2fa7a86d3352a09eae.

Original source entry:

紅麴 红曲 [hong2 qu1] /red yeast (so called, although it's actually a mold, not a yeast), a fermentation product created by culturing rice with the mold Monascus purpureus, producing red pigments and bioactive compounds, used in food for its color, as a flavor enhancer, and for its health benefits/

Reference definitions and teaching material have separate provenance.

Reference information

The definitions above are from CC-CEDICT. Examples and usage notes are available on selected entries.

Character information

View the individual characters. Their meanings do not necessarily explain the meaning of the whole word.

Other forms in these source records: 紅麴

  • 红
    gōng

    used in 女紅|女红[nu : 3 gong1]

    hóng

    red / popular / revolutionary / bonus

    Hóng

    surname Hong

  • 曲
    qū

    bent / crooked / wrong / fermentation starter / leaven (molds, yeasts or bacteria used in fermenting soy products or brewing etc) / Taiwan pr. [qú]

    qǔ

    tune / song / CL:支[zhī]

    Qū

    surname Qu

Reference definitions from CC-CEDICT.