‘土豆’ (tǔ dòu) literally means ‘earth bean’—a descriptive compound noun where ‘土’ (tǔ) means ‘earth’ or ‘soil’, and ‘豆’ (dòu) means ‘bean’. Though it contains the character for ‘bean’, it refers to the starchy tuber we know in English as the potato. This name reflects how potatoes grow underground, similar to root vegetables and legumes in appearance and cultivation.

In everyday Chinese, ‘土豆’ is the standard, neutral term used across mainland China for the common white or yellow potato. It appears frequently in cooking contexts (e.g., stir-fries, soups, and snacks), grocery shopping, and agricultural discussions. Unlike regional terms like ‘马铃薯’ (mǎ líng shǔ), which is more formal or scientific, ‘土豆’ is colloquial, widely understood, and preferred in spoken language and informal writing.