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紅麴

简红曲 · 繁紅麴

Mandarin · pinyin hóng qū

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

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Characters in this entry

紅: hóng · red, vermillion; blush, flush
麴: Look up this written character
红: hóng · red, vermillion; blush, flush
曲: qū · crooked, bent; wrong, false

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Mandarin tones

2–1 · hong2 qu1

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noun

"red yeast", Monascus purpureus
(abbreviation, alt-of) short for 紅麴米／红曲米 (hóngqūmǐ)

Source page · dump 2026-09-02 · Contributors & history

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