Dong Chinese dictionary

cài

vegetables

Phonosemantic compound. 艹 represents the meaning and 采 represents the sound.

Components

艹 Meaning component

cao, cǎo

grass

艹 is a component form of 艸.

采 Sound component

cǎi, cài

gather, pick

Evolution

Bronze script

Mid Western Zhou (~900 BC)

Seal script

Shuowen (~100 AD)

Clerical script

Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Regular script

Modern

Definitions

cài

vegetables; dish, order; food; dish (type of food); vegetable; cuisine; CL:盤|盘[pán],道[dào]; (coll.) (one's) type; (of one's skills etc) weak; poor

Most common words with 菜

Sources