About
The character 菜 is structurally composed of the grass radical 艹 positioned above the component 采, which carries the meaning of picking or gathering, directly indicating its original association with edible plants collected for food. In early Chinese texts, the term specifically referred to vegetables, but over time its semantic range widened to include prepared food items and general cuisine, as observable in compounds like 菜肴 for dishes or 酒菜 for food and drink. The components 艹 and 采 have consistently constituted the character, anchoring its meaning to plant-based sustenance and the action of harvesting.
Etymology Hide
Example Sentences Hide
我今天买了菜。
妈妈做的菜很好吃。
这道菜太辣了。
我喜欢吃青菜。
中国菜很有名。
他去市场买新鲜蔬菜。
如果你不吃菜，会缺乏维生素。
这家餐厅的招牌菜是烤鸭。