菜花 (cài huā) — cauliflower (Brassica oleracea); rape flower (Brassica rapa, the bright yellow flower of rapeseed)

Definition

Two unrelated vegetables share this name: the white cauliflower eaten as a vegetable, and the yellow rape/rapeseed flower that blooms in spring fields (also called 油菜花).

noun
cauliflower (Brassica oleracea)rape flower (Brassica rapa, the bright yellow flower of rapeseed)
Measure word · 棵

Examples

  • 。
    Chǎo cài huā de shí hou bié wàng le fàng diǎn suàn.
    Don't forget to add a little garlic when stir-frying the cauliflower.
  • 菜花。
    Chūn tiān tián yě lǐ de cài huā kāi dé jīn càn càn de.
    In spring the rape flowers in the fields bloom a brilliant gold.
  • 菜花，。
    Zhè dào cài yòng xīn xiān cài huā zuò de, wèi dào hěn qīng dàn.
    This dish is made with fresh cauliflower and tastes very light.

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.

菜càivegetable
花huāflower

菜 refers to the plant or vegetable, 花 to its flower; together they name the edible flower.

Characters in this word

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 →

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
化
化huà花
Same sound today

花 pairs 艹 (grass; plant) with 化, which gives the sound.

Open 花 →

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