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March 24, 2026
菜cài(cai4)
The character '菜' (cài) primarily means 'dish' or 'vegetable.' It is commonly used to refer to types of food in a meal, especially vegetables, and can also denote cuisine in general. In everyday conversation, it is often associated with Chinese dishes or the act of ordering food.
Strokes11Radical艹Frequency#1421DifficultyEasy
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, '菜' is central to communal dining, where dishes are shared among family and friends. A meal often consists of multiple '菜' served together, reflecting the importance of variety and balance in Chinese cuisine.
Memory Tip
Imagine a vibrant vegetable garden where each 'cài' (菜) is a colorful dish waiting to be served. The character has a 'vegetable' radical that looks like a leafy plant, reminding you that 'cài' is all about fresh, green foods.
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AI Study Notes for 菜
Quick Contrast
蔬菜 (shūcài) refers specifically to 'vegetables' in a more general sense, while 菜 (cài) can refer to 'dishes' or 'cuisine' more broadly.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a vibrant vegetable garden where each 'cài' (菜) is a colorful dish waiting to be served. The character has a 'vegetable' radical that looks like a leafy plant, reminding you that 'cài' is all about fresh, green foods.
Usage Notes
'菜' is versatile and can refer to both vegetables and prepared dishes, but it’s important not to confuse it with '食物' (shíwù), which means food in general. In informal contexts, you might hear it used to order food: '来一个菜' (lái yīgè cài) meaning 'bring a dish.' Pay attention to the tone; 'cài' is pronounced with a falling tone, which can change the meaning if mispronounced.
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK Level 1 word, '菜' is foundational for discussing food and meals in Mandarin. Students should practice using it in simple sentences, such as '我喜欢吃菜' (wǒ xǐhuān chī cài - I like to eat vegetables) and connect it with other food-related vocabulary learned at this level.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, '菜' is central to communal dining, where dishes are shared among family and friends. A meal often consists of multiple '菜' served together, reflecting the importance of variety and balance in Chinese cuisine.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse '菜' with '食物' (shíwù) and might say '我喜欢食物' instead of '我喜欢菜' when specifically talking about liking vegetables. Additionally, mispronouncing the tone can lead to misunderstandings, as '菜' with a different tone could mean something entirely different.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 菜
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Grammar Patterns of 菜
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 7 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.
This dish may be prepared a day ahead of time and refrigerated.
Cultural Notes for 菜
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, '菜' is central to communal dining, where dishes are shared among family and friends. A meal often consists of multiple '菜' served together, reflecting the importance of variety and balance in Chinese cuisine.
🌏Cross-cultural Insight
Unlike in many Western cultures where individual portions are common, in Chinese dining, multiple '菜' are placed on the table, emphasizing sharing and collective enjoyment of food.
Word Family of 菜
Words Containing This Character20
菜càivegetable
蔬菜shūcàivegetables
菜单càidānmenu菜單
泡菜pickled cabbage
饭菜food飯菜
小菜appetizer
菠菜spinach
白菜báicàipak choi
油菜oilseed rape (Brassica napus)
点菜to order dishes (in a restaurant)點菜
芹菜celery (Apium graveolens)
菜刀vegetable knife
青菜green vegetables
卷心菜cabbage
菜谱recipe菜譜
生菜lettuce
做菜to cook
菜肴dish菜餚
甜菜beet
剩菜leftovers (food)
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 菜 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 菜
Common dishes include stir-fried greens such as '炒菜心' (chǎo cài xīn) or '凉拌菜' (liángbàn cài), which refers to cold vegetable dishes.
Yes, '菜' can mean both vegetables and specific dishes, so context is important to understand its usage.
While '菜' is commonly used in both formal and informal settings, it is more frequently heard in casual conversations about food.
