蔬菜 (shūcài) — vegetables
HSK 3 | noun | vegetables, the specific category of edible plants
蔬菜 (shūcài)
蔬菜 specifically means vegetables as a food category. While 菜 is the everyday broad word for dishes or produce, 蔬菜 is the more precise and formal term that means vegetables specifically, not dishes in general.
Meanings
- [noun] Vegetables; edible plants; greens and produce.
Example Sentences
多吃蔬菜对身体很好。 Duō chī shūcài duì shēntǐ hěn hǎo. Eating more vegetables is very good for your health.
我们家每顿饭都要有蔬菜。 Wǒmen jiā měi dùn fàn dōu yào yǒu shūcài. Every meal at our home must include vegetables.
这里的新鲜蔬菜种类很多。 Zhèlǐ de xīnxiān shūcài zhǒnglèi hěn duō. There are many varieties of fresh vegetables here.
他不喜欢吃蔬菜，只爱吃肉。 Tā bù xǐhuan chī shūcài, zhǐ ài chī ròu. He doesn't like eating vegetables; he only loves eating meat.
Collocations
| Collocation | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 新鲜蔬菜 | fresh vegetables |
| 绿色蔬菜 | green vegetables |
| 吃蔬菜 | to eat vegetables |
| 蔬菜水果 | vegetables and fruit |
| 有机蔬菜 | organic vegetables |
Memory Hook
蔬 contains 草 (grass/plant) on top, reinforcing its plant nature. 蔬菜 is the formal pairing for the vegetables category. If 菜 is everything on your plate, 蔬菜 is specifically the green, leafy, garden part.