Vegetables and greens hold an important place in Chinese cuisine. They are nutritious, affordable, and delicious.
From crunchy bok choy to juicy tomato - this article will introduce you to popular greens and vegetables 🥦
Chinese Names for
Vegetables and Greens
Let's start with the basics and learn how to say "vegetables" in Chinese:
The term for vegetarian diet in Chinese is "素食 (sùshí)", where the word "素 sù" means plain, simple, and "食 shí" means food.
This term is widely used in restaurants, menus, and among people who follow a vegetarian lifestyle in China.
. NOTE .
If you're in a restaurant and would like to ask if they have a vegetarian menu, you can say:
03. Chinese Native Vegetables
China is home to a wide variety of native vegetables that are commonly used in its cuisine. Some of the most well-known include:
Chinese cabbage; bok choy
Chinese eggplant
Chinese broccoli
. NOTE
lotus root
04. Common Vegetables
Other well-known vegetables also play a crucial role in Chinese dishes. Here are a few examples:
cucumber
carrot
tomato
cauliflower
broccoli
potato
onion
green bell pepper
05. Measure Words for Vegetables
When going to a Chinese market, you'll find it helpful to know the measure words for vegetables:
个 (gè) - general measure word.
. EXAMPLE
Please give me three tomatoes.
根 (gēn) - for long, thin items.
. EXAMPLE
I want to buy two carrots.
棵 (kē) - for plants that grow as a whole.
. EXAMPLE
I want one Chinese cabbage.
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