1.
wild mountain vegetables, edible wild plants
Edible plants that grow wild in the mountains and fields. Gathering and eating them is a traditional seasonal activity in Japan, especially in spring.
春に山菜を採る。
To gather wild vegetables in spring.
天ぷらにした山菜はとても美味しい。
Wild mountain vegetables made into tempura are very delicious.
祖母は毎年春になると山に入って山菜を採り、近所の人にも分けてくれる。
Every spring, my grandmother goes into the mountains to gather wild vegetables and shares them with the neighbors.
STRUCTURE:
山 (mountain) + 菜 (vegetable, greens).
USAGE:
山菜 refers to a broad category of wild edible plants harvested from mountains and forests. Gathering them (山菜採り) is a popular seasonal activity in spring. Common varieties include 蕨 (bracken fern), 蕗 (butterbur), and たらの芽 (aralia sprouts). Many require preparation such as removing bitterness (灰汁抜き) before eating.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 山菜採り: gathering wild vegetables
- 山菜の天ぷら: tempura of wild vegetables
- 山菜そば: soba noodles with wild vegetables
- 山菜料理: wild vegetable cuisine