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白菜 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
白菜báicàiChinese cabbageHSK 3, unknown, 16 strokes, rank #23622, Medium
白菜báicàipak choiHSK 3, unknown, 16 strokes, rank #23622, Medium
báicài(bai2cai4)bai cai T2
  1. 1Chinese cabbage
  2. 2pak choi
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March 24, 2026

白菜báicài(bai2cai4)

白菜 (bái cài) refers to Chinese cabbage, specifically a type of leafy vegetable commonly used in Chinese cuisine. It is often stir-fried, pickled, or used in soups, and is noted for its crisp texture and mild flavor, making it a staple in many dishes.

Strokes16Frequency#23622DifficultyMedium
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, '白菜' is often associated with prosperity and good fortune, especially around the Lunar New Year, where it may symbolize wealth due to its phonetic similarity to '白财', meaning 'white wealth'.

Memory Tip

Imagine a big, white cabbage (白 bái means 'white') that looks like it's wearing a coat (菜 cài means 'vegetable'). Picture it in a bustling Chinese market, surrounded by other fresh produce, emphasizing its significance in everyday meals.

Meanings of 白菜

báicài(bai2cai4)
1Chinese cabbage
2pak choi
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About 白菜

白菜Simplified
16Strokes
—Radical
#—Frequency Rank
棵Measure Word
HSK 3.0L3ElementaryTOCFLL3YCTL4HSKKL2CEFRA2

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Podcast: 白菜

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AI Study Notes for 白菜

Quick Contrast

白菜 (báicài) vs 圆白菜 (yuánbái cài) — use 白菜 for the specific type of Chinese cabbage, while 圆白菜 refers to round cabbage, which is a different variety.

Usage Notes

Common mistakes include confusing '白菜' with other types of cabbage; make sure to use '白菜' specifically for this variety. It's appropriate for both informal and formal contexts, especially when discussing food or recipes. Be cautious with the tones; mispronouncing either can lead to confusion.

HSK Study Tips

While '白菜' itself is not an HSK vocabulary word, it connects to Level 2 words related to food and dining, such as '吃 (chī - to eat)' and '菜 (cài - dish)'. Students should focus on the tones and practice using it in sentences about meals.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse '白菜' with '卷心菜' (juǎn xīn cài), which means 'cabbage' in a more general sense. Remember, '白菜' specifically denotes the Chinese variety and should be used in that context.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 白菜

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Component Characters

白báiwhite
HSK 55 strokes白
View full entry
菜càidish (type of food)
HSK 111 strokes艹
View full entry

How to say Chinese cabbage in Chinese

“Chinese cabbage” in Chinese is白菜báicài

白菜 (bái cài) refers to Chinese cabbage, specifically a type of leafy vegetable commonly used in Chinese cuisine. It is often stir-fried, pickled, or used in soups, and is noted for its crisp texture and mild flavor, making it a staple in many dishes.

When to use 白菜

Common mistakes include confusing '白菜' with other types of cabbage; make sure to use '白菜' specifically for this variety. It's appropriate for both informal and formal contexts, especially when discussing food or recipes. Be cautious with the tones; mispronouncing either can lead to confusion.

白菜 or something close to it

白菜 (báicài) vs 圆白菜 (yuánbái cài) — use 白菜 for the specific type of Chinese cabbage, while 圆白菜 refers to round cabbage, which is a different variety.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse '白菜' with '卷心菜' (juǎn xīn cài), which means 'cabbage' in a more general sense. Remember, '白菜' specifically denotes the Chinese variety and should be used in that context.

Write 白菜

白
菜

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Frequently Asked Questions about 白菜

Make sure to use the second tone for '白' (bái) and the fourth tone for '菜' (cài). Practice saying it slowly, emphasizing the tones.

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