菜
Mnemonic
You're on your knees in grass, reaching out to gather something growing low to the ground. It's a fresh vegetable! You keep pulling greens from the grass, gathering armload after armload for a massive garden feast.
Additional thoughts
Picture kneeling in lush grass, hands gathering leafy greens—the grass itself transforms into edible vegetables when you gather them. Grass on top, gather below, just like the kanji structure.Quick recall
Kneeling in grass, you gather a fresh vegetable.Details
The keyword for 菜 is vegetable. This kanji refers broadly to edible plants, greens, and vegetables used in cooking. It encompasses all manner of plant-based foods that are cultivated or gathered for consumption, from leafy greens to root vegetables. It also appears in the context of dishes or cuisine more generally, as in side dishes or prepared foods featuring vegetables.
- On'yomi
- さい
- Kun'yomi
- な