Definition

1. Noun:
   • Water dropwort: A type of edible herbaceous plant, specifically Oenanthe javanica, commonly used in Vietnamese cuisine, especially in soups and salads.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • Canh chua thường được nấu với cần ta. (Sour soup is often cooked with water dropwort.)
  • Rau cần ta có mùi thơm đặc trưng. (Water dropwort has a distinctive aroma.)

Advanced Usage

• "rau cần ta": This is the most common full term, specifying it as a vegetable (rau).
  • Rau cần ta là một loại rau gia vị phổ biến. (Water dropwort is a common herb vegetable.)

Variants and Related Words

• Cần nước (n): Another common name for the same plant (), literally "water celery."
• Cần tây (n): Celery. This is a different plant () but shares a similar name due to its appearance and use as a herb/vegetable.

Synonyms

• Rau cần: A more general term that can refer to water dropwort or similar plants in the or genus.
• Java water dropwort: The English botanical name.

Notes on Different Meanings

• The word "cần" alone can be a verb meaning "to need" or can refer to other plants (like cần tây - celery). The suffix "ta" (our, indigenous) specifies this as the local, commonly used variety in Vietnam. Therefore, "cần ta" specifically denotes the plant and is not used in other contexts.

1. (thực vật) Water dropwort