香菜 (xiāng cài) — cilantro, coriander | tongtong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

noun

cilantrocoriander

Measure word · 把

香菜。
Hěn duō rén bù xǐ huan xiāng cài de wèi dào.
Many people don't like the taste of cilantro.
香菜。
Wǒ mā ma zuò cài de shí hou xǐ huan fàng xiāng cài.
My mom likes to add cilantro when cooking.
香菜，。
Zhè dào cài shàng miàn fàng le xiāng cài, tè bié hǎo chī.
This dish has cilantro on top; it's especially delicious.

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/herb

香 means fragrant and 菜 means vegetable or herb, naming a fragrant herb.

Characters in this word

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

香's early form paired 黍 (glutinous millet) with 口 (mouth), perhaps showing millet drink being taken in or offered.

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

艹采菜

Meaning part形符xíngfú

艹Written in full as艸cǎograss; plant

Sound part声符shēngfú

采

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.