菜
cài
In Chinese, the English phrase "dish" is translated as 菜 (cài).
菜 is used to refer to a specific type of food or a dish. It is worth noting that 菜 also means "vegetable". While 菜 refers to a specific dish or vegetables, the term 食物 is used for "food" in a more general or biological sense.
Meaning: specific type of food (noun)
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Sichuanese, the term used for dish is 碟.
How does it change in a sentence?
When you are counting specific dishes, use the measure word 道 to form 道菜.
How do you pronounce it?
cài
Did you know?
- The word 菜 is used as a slang term for a 'noob' or someone who is very bad at a game or skill. To call someone 菜 is to tell them they lack talent.
- The measure word 道 used for 菜 is the same word used for 'paths' or 'ways'. It suggests a sequence or a 'course' in a meal.
- The character 菜 contains the 'grass' radical at the top, which reflects the historical connection between all 'dishes' and gathered plants or vegetables.
Examples in context
- 你喜歡為家人做什麼菜？What's a dish you enjoy for your family?This sentence is useful for asking about a dish someone enjoys making for their family using 菜.Tatoeba #13117540 by LeviHighway, translation #12847211 by CK
- 這道菜裡有點大蒜的味道。This dish has a bit of garlic flavor.This sentence is useful for describing the flavor of a dish using 菜.Tatoeba #2806360 by cienias, translation #5313716 by csmjj
- 每次他来这里点一样的菜。Every time he comes here, he orders the same dish.This sentence is useful for describing someone ordering the same dish using 菜.Tatoeba #4757626 by ryanwoo, translation #894789 by pauldhunt
- 这个餐厅的 菜品 非常丰富。The restaurant offers a wide variety of dishes.
- 7 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Zihan and Wei are looking at a restaurant menu.
- 梓涵 Zihan这里的哪道菜最出名？Zhèlǐ de nǎ dào cài zuì chūmíng?Which dish here is the most famous?
- 伟 Wei我觉得这道菜很有名。Wǒ juéde zhè dào cài hěn yǒumíng.I think this dish is very famous.
- 梓涵 Zihan太好了，我们点这个菜吧。Tài hǎole, wǒmen diǎn zhège cài ba.Great, let's order this dish.
- 伟 Wei没问题，我这就去点菜。Méi wèntí, wǒ zhè jiù qù diǎn cài.No problem, I will go order the food now.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “dish” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 菜, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
