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蔬菜 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
蔬菜shūcàivegetablesHSK 5, n, rank #5170, Hard
蔬菜shūcàiproduceHSK 5, n, rank #5170, Hard
蔬菜shūcài>种[zhǒng]HSK 5, n, rank #5170, Hard
shūcài(shu1cai4) T1
  1. 1vegetables
  2. 2produce
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March 24, 2026
蔬菜shūcài(shu1cai4)

蔬菜 (shūcài) refers to vegetables or produce, primarily used in the context of food and cooking. It encompasses a wide variety of edible plants, typically consumed in meals, and is an essential part of a healthy diet in Chinese cuisine.

Frequency#5170DifficultyHard
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, vegetables play a crucial role in meals and are often seen as symbols of health and vitality. Traditional Chinese diets emphasize the balance of flavors and nutrition, with vegetables being a staple.

Memory Tip

Think of 蔬菜 as a 'shoo' (sounds like 'shu') of fresh 'cai' (sounds like 'kai') vegetables appearing at a colorful market. The character 蔬 (shū) looks like a plant with a root, while 菜 (cài) resembles a dish filled with vegetables.

Meanings of 蔬菜

shūcài(shu1cai4)
1vegetables
2produce
Exercise 1 of 2

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About 蔬菜

蔬菜Simplified
—Strokes
—Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#5170Frequency Rank
种Measure Word
HSK 2.0L5HSK 3.0L5IntermediateHSKKL3CEFRB2

Podcast: 蔬菜

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Podcast: 蔬菜

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AI Study Notes for 蔬菜

Quick Contrast

水果 (shuǐguǒ) — use 蔬菜 for vegetables, while 水果 refers specifically to fruits.

Memory Mnemonic

Think of 蔬菜 as a 'shoo' (sounds like 'shu') of fresh 'cai' (sounds like 'kai') vegetables appearing at a colorful market. The character 蔬 (shū) looks like a plant with a root, while 菜 (cài) resembles a dish filled with vegetables.

Usage Notes

Be cautious with the pronunciation, particularly the tones, as using the wrong tone can lead to misunderstandings. It is often used in both formal and informal contexts, but in a culinary discussion, it may be more common to hear it in a casual setting. Common collocations include 蔬菜沙拉 (vegetable salad) and 新鲜蔬菜 (fresh vegetables).

HSK Study Tips

At HSK Level 5, students should focus on using 蔬菜 in various contexts, such as discussing health or cooking. Connect this word with other food-related vocabulary, such as 食物 (shíwù - food) and 水果 (shuǐguǒ - fruit), to expand your culinary lexicon.

Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, vegetables play a crucial role in meals and are often seen as symbols of health and vitality. Traditional Chinese diets emphasize the balance of flavors and nutrition, with vegetables being a staple.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 蔬菜 with another similar word, 食物 (shíwù), which means food in general. For example, saying '我喜欢蔬菜' (I like food) is incorrect; it should specify '我喜欢蔬菜' (I like vegetables).

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 蔬菜

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Component Characters

蔬shūvegetables
15 strokes艹
View full entry
菜càidish (type of food)
HSK 111 strokes艹
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Write 蔬菜

蔬
菜

Practice writing 蔬菜 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

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Grammar Patterns of 蔬菜

蔬菜 functions as a noun — it names a person, place, thing, or concept. Place it as a subject before the verb (主+谓) or as an object after the verb (谓+宾). Most Chinese nouns require a measure word between the number and the noun (e.g. 一个/三本). It carries 3 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.

Related grammar lessons2
Exercise 1 of 3

Complete the Sentence

你不能光吃肉，也要吃____。

You can't just eat meat; you should eat vegetables too.

Example Sentences for 蔬菜 (10)

Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
把所有切好的蔬菜放入砂锅。

bǎ suǒ yǒu qiē hǎo de shū cài fàng rù shā guō。

Place all the chopped vegetables into a casserole dish.
2
提前把蔬菜准备好。

tí qián bǎ shū cài zhǔn bèi hǎo。

Prep the vegetables in advance.
3
肉食已经好了,蔬菜还未做好.

ròu shí yǐ jīng hǎo le, , shū cài huán wèi zuò.

The meat's ready but the vegetables still are not done.
4
像甜椒这样的蔬菜会抢了原汤的味道。

xiàng tián jiāo zhè yàng de shū cài huì qiāng le yuán tāng de wèi dào。

Vegetables such as peppers can overpower the flavor of the stock.
5
在我对学校午餐的回忆中，印象最深刻的就是蔬菜总是炒过头。

zài wǒ duì xué xiào wǔ cān de huí yì zhōng， ， yìn xiàng zuì shēn kè de jiù shì shū cài zǒng shì chǎo guò。

Overcooked greens are my most vivid recollection of school dinners.
6
新鲜的水果和蔬菜很重要，麦麸也是。

xīn xiān de shuǐ guǒ hé shū cài hěn zhòng yào， ， mài fū yě。

Fresh fruits and vegetables are important and so is bran.
7
切生肉、熟肉、蔬菜和拌色拉的青菜时要使用不同的切菜板。

qiē shēng ròu、 、 shú、 ròu 、 shū cài hé bàn sè lā de qīng cài shí yào shǐ yòng bù tóng de qiē。

Use separate chopping boards for raw meats, cooked meats, vegetables and salads.
8
将蔬菜蒸至大半熟后从蒸锅里捞出。

jiāng shū cài zhēng zhì dà bàn shú hòu cóng zhēng guō lǐ lāo chū。

Remove the vegetables from the steamer when they are three-quarters cooked.
9
他决定点烤鸡配蔬菜，然后是苹果派。

tā jué dìng diǎn kǎo jī pèi shū cài， ， rán hòu shì píng guǒ。

He decided on roast chicken and vegetables, with apple pie to follow.
10
再加些蔬菜使煎蛋看上去量更大。

zài jiā xiē shū cài shǐ jiān dàn kàn shàng qù liáng gēng dà。

Use extra vegetables to bulk up the omelette.

Cultural Notes for 蔬菜

🏮Cultural insight

In Chinese culture, vegetables play a crucial role in meals and are often seen as symbols of health and vitality. Traditional Chinese diets emphasize the balance of flavors and nutrition, with vegetables being a staple.

🌏Cross-cultural Insight

In Western cultures, the concept of 'vegetables' is often broader and may include processed forms, while in Chinese culture, fresh, whole vegetables are usually preferred in home cooking.

Frequently Asked Questions about 蔬菜

Common examples include 西红柿 (xīhóngshì - tomato), 胡萝卜 (húluóbo - carrot), and 青菜 (qīngcài - leafy greens).