卷心菜
juǎnxīncài
The English word cabbage is translated into Chinese as 卷心菜 (juǎnxīncài).
卷心菜 refers to the leaves of this plant eaten as a vegetable.
Meaning: leaves of this plant eaten as a vegetable (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The name 卷心菜 (juǎnxīncài) literally means 'roll heart vegetable', referring to the way the leaves roll inward toward the center.
Which one should you use?
There are several common terms for cabbage. 包菜 (bāocài) is a common alternative, and 圆白菜 (yuánbáicài) is another common way to refer to cabbage, literally 'round white vegetable'.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Taiwan and among Minnan speakers, the term for cabbage is 高麗菜.
How do you pronounce it?
juǎnxīncài
Did you know?
- In Taiwan, the term 高麗菜 refers to cabbage as a 'Koryo vegetable', linking the plant's origins to the ancient Korean kingdom of Goguryeo.
- The term 高麗菜 is so dominant in Taiwan that using the mainland term 卷心菜 can immediately signal that a speaker is not from the island.
- The word 包 in 包菜 means 'to wrap', which is also the same character used for 'bun' or 'package'.
Examples in context
- 卷心菜可以生吃。Cabbage can be eaten raw.Tatoeba #1899663 by fercheung, translation #63177 by CK
- 由于产量过剩，卷心菜的价格下降了。The price of cabbage fell because of overproduction.Tatoeba #333306 by fucongcong, translation #63174 by voxbubnya
- 我爱吃白菜，它很清脆可口！I love eating cabbage, it's crisp and delicious!
- 请给我一颗大白菜。Please give me one head of cabbage.
- 我想买一颗新鲜的卷心菜。Wǒ xiǎng mǎi yī kē xīnxiān de juǎnxīncài.I want to buy a fresh cabbage.
Example conversation
A man and a woman are shopping for groceries at a market.
- 梓涵 Zihan浩然，你看这颗卷心菜怎么样？Hàorán, nǐ kàn zhè kē juǎnxīncài zěnmeyàng?Haoran, how does this cabbage look?
- 浩然 Haoran这颗卷心菜看起来很不错。Zhè kē juǎnxīncài kàn qǐlái hěn bùcuò.This cabbage looks very good.
- 梓涵 Zihan那我们把它买回家吧。Nà wǒmen bǎ tā mǎi huí jiā ba.Then let's buy it and take it home.
- 浩然 Haoran好的，梓涵。Hǎo de, Zǐhán.Okay, Zihan.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
