Usage note
“菜”可以指蔬菜，也可以指一道做好的菜肴。
“cài” kěyǐ zhǐ shūcài, yě kěyǐ zhǐ yī dào zuò hǎo de càiyáo.
The word '菜' can mean a vegetable or a cooked dish served at a meal.
Context note
在吃饭的时候，我们常常说“菜”，可以指蔬菜，也可以指做好的菜肴。
Zài chīfàn de shíhou, wǒmen chángcháng shuō “cài”, kěyǐ zhǐ shūcài, yě kěyǐ zhǐ zuò hǎo de càiyáo.
This word is used when talking about meals. It can mean vegetables or a cooked dish.
5 examples
这道菜很好吃
zhè dào cài hěn hǎochī
This dish is very delicious
我喜欢吃蔬菜
wǒ xǐhuān chī shūcài
I like to eat vegetables
妈妈做了很多菜
māma zuò le hěnduō cài
Mom made a lot of dishes
这道青菜很好吃
zhè dào qīngcài hěn hǎochī
This green vegetable is very delicious
我们今天吃素菜
wǒmen jīntiān chī sùcài
We are having vegetarian dishes today
5 mini stories
妈妈在厨房炒菜，香味飘满了整个屋子。我帮妈妈把青菜放进锅里。
Māma zài chúfáng chǎo cài, xiāngwèi piāo mǎnle zhěnggè wūzi. Wǒ bāng māma bǎ qīngcài fàng jìn guō lǐ.
Mom is stir-frying vegetables in the kitchen, and the aroma fills the whole house. I help Mom put the green vegetables into the pan.
今天午饭有我最爱的西红柿炒鸡蛋，这道菜颜色真好看。我吃了满满一碗饭。
Jīntiān wǔfàn yǒu wǒ zuì ài de xīhóngshì chǎo jīdàn, zhè dào cài yánsè zhēn hǎokàn. Wǒ chīle mǎnmǎn yī wǎn fàn.
Today's lunch has my favorite scrambled eggs with tomatoes, and this dish has such pretty colors. I ate a full bowl of rice.
爷爷在院子里种了很多菜，有白菜、萝卜，还有黄瓜。他每天给菜浇水，它们长得绿油油的。
Yéye zài yuànzi lǐ zhòngle hěnduō cài, yǒu báicài, luóbo, hái yǒu huángguā. Tā měitiān gěi cài jiāo shuǐ, tāmen zhǎng de lǜyóuyóu de.
Grandpa grows many vegetables in the yard, including cabbage, radish, and cucumber. He waters the vegetables every day, and they grow lush and green.
我和爸爸去超市买菜，我挑了一颗大大的花菜。回家后，爸爸教我做凉拌菜。
Wǒ hé bàba qù chāoshì mǎi cài, wǒ tiāole yī kē dàdà de huācài. Huí jiā hòu, bàba jiāo wǒ zuò liángbàn cài.
Dad and I went to the supermarket to buy vegetables, and I picked a big cauliflower. After we got home, Dad taught me how to make a cold tossed dish.
学校食堂今天的菜真丰富，有肉、有鱼，还有青菜。我和好朋友把菜都吃光了。
Xuéxiào shítáng jīntiān de cài zhēn fēngfù, yǒu ròu, yǒu yú, hái yǒu qīngcài. Wǒ hé hǎo péngyou bǎ cài dōu chī guāng le.
The dishes in the school cafeteria today were really plentiful, with meat, fish, and green vegetables. My good friend and I ate up all the dishes.
Mini dialogue
At dinner
A
你喜欢吃什么菜？
Nǐ xǐhuān chī shénme cài?
What dish do you like to eat?
B
我喜欢吃这个菜。
Wǒ xǐhuān chī zhège cài.
I like to eat this dish.
Buying vegetables
A
今天买什么菜？
Jīntiān mǎi shénme cài?
What vegetables shall we buy today?
B
买青菜，好吗？
Mǎi qīngcài, hǎo ma?
Let's buy green vegetables, okay?
Related words and contrasts
similar
蔬菜
shūcài
vegetables
蔬菜 specifically means vegetables, while 菜 can mean dish or vegetable.
related
饭
fàn
rice; meal
饭 means rice or meal, often eaten together with 菜 (dishes).