pe-tsai
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Noun 1. A type of Chinese cabbage: A leafy vegetable plant (Brassica rapa subsp. pekinensis) characterized by an elongated, cylindrical head of tightly packed, broad, pale green leaves with white stalks. It is widely used in East Asian cuisine.
Usage
- As a countable noun: Refers to the whole vegetable or a specific head of it.
- The recipe calls for one pe-tsai, finely shredded.
- I bought two fresh pe-tsais from the market.
- As an uncountable noun: Refers to the vegetable as a food ingredient.
- Add the chopped pe-tsai to the soup.
- This dish contains pe-tsai, pork, and ginger.
Examples
Advanced Usage
- The term "pe-tsai" is a direct transliteration of the Mandarin Chinese word for this vegetable (白菜, ), literally meaning "white vegetable." It is less common in general English than the name "napa cabbage."
Variants and Related Words
- Napa cabbage: The most common English name for this vegetable, especially in North America.
- Chinese cabbage: A broader term that can sometimes refer to both pe-tsai (napa cabbage) and bok choy, though it often specifically means pe-tsai.
- Wombok: A common name for this vegetable in Australia and some other regions.
Synonyms
- Napa cabbage
- Chinese cabbage (in its specific sense)
- Celery cabbage (an older, descriptive name)
Related Idioms or Phrases
- There are no common idioms or phrasal verbs specifically using the word "pe-tsai." It is used almost exclusively as a straightforward noun for the vegetable.
Noun
- plant with an elongated head of broad stalked leaves resembling celery; used as a vegetable in east Asia