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What is the quantifying determiner for the tropical fruit 'durian'/'jackfruit'?

For instance:

I ate one durian

It is unclear if the person is eating the entire durian by themselves or just one part of it.

I ate two seeds of durian

When someone said that, generally, we understand they don't mean eating the seeds literally. However, is there a better way to say it? What do you really use in English instead of 'seed'? (I couldn't find any instances of 'seed of durian')

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  • Comments are not for extended discussion; this conversation has been moved to chat.
    – tchrist
    Commented Jul 30, 2019 at 2:18

2 Answers 2

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You can use the term bulb (aril) to talk about the edible part of a fruit like the jackfruit rather than the word seed.

I ate two jackfruit bulbs.

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  • This is interesting! Thanks for the reference! Commented Jul 21, 2019 at 9:24
  • And no one would argue if you said I ate some durian instead of reporting quantities. Commented Jan 12, 2023 at 1:05
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You can also use "pod" which is how people might more commonly refer to the durian fruit sections.

For example in How to Open a Durian Fruit by Faith Durand:

See the “pod” coming out of the husk? That’s the edible part.

in Durian from www.specialtyproduce.com:

Inside the fruit are about five oval compartments or pods, each filled with soft, ...

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  • A brief internet search seems to show that 'pod' is what is most often used in English for a section of durian, but it often occurs in quotes meaning that the word is being used in a new situation (as though the reader had never before experienced it this way.
    – Mitch
    Commented Jul 22, 2019 at 21:51
  • I also searched and found similar results. I posted "pods" because it sounds more natural than "bulbs". "bulbs" definitely has more of a flower connotation.
    – tk421
    Commented Jul 22, 2019 at 22:11
  • Right. I wouldn't want to eat a bulb.
    – Mitch
    Commented Jul 22, 2019 at 22:49

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