朝鲜泡菜 (cháo xiǎn pào cài) — Korean kimchi (fermented cabbage)

Definition

A common Mainland Chinese term for Korean kimchi, literally 'Korean pickled vegetables'. It's a food/cuisine word — you'll see it on restaurant menus and grocery labels.

noun
Korean kimchi (fermented cabbage)

Examples

  • 朝鲜泡菜。
    Wǒ mā ma zuò de cháo xiǎn pào cài hěn hǎo chī.
    The kimchi my mom makes is delicious.
  • 朝鲜泡菜？
    Nǐ qù hán guó chāo shì mǎi cháo xiǎn pào cài ma?
    Are you going to the Korean supermarket to buy kimchi?
  • 朝鲜泡菜。
    cháo xiǎn pào cài Shì yì zhǒng chuán tǒng de hán guó shí wù.
    Kimchi is a traditional Korean food.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

朝鲜Korea
朝cháo鲜xiān
泡菜pickled vegetables
泡pàosoak菜càivegetable
动宾Verb + object

朝鲜 names Korea, while 泡菜 refers to vegetables prepared by 泡 (soaking).

Characters in this word

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

Originally, 朝 showed the sun rising above the ground while the moon was still in the sky, giving the sense of morning.

Open 朝 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 鮮; 鲜 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
魚魚yúfish
Sound part声符shēngfú
羴
羴shān鮮xiān
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 鮮 pairs 魚 (fish) with 羴, which gives the sound; this note is about 鮮, not 鲜.

Open 鲜 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
氵Written in full as水shuǐwater
Sound part声符shēngfú
包
包bāo泡pào
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

泡 combines 氵 (water) and 包, which supplies the sound. It conveys foam.

Open 泡 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
艹Written in full as艸cǎograss; plant
Sound part声符shēngfú
采
采cǎi菜cài
Same sound today

菜 has 艹 (grass/plants) on top and 采 below; the top part shows it is a plant, while 采 gives the sound.

Open 菜 →

Browse more HSK 7-9 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.