(ようさい)

ようさい
noun
leafy vegetable, leaf vegetable
1. leafy vegetable, leaf vegetable
A vegetable whose leaves are the primary edible part. Includes spinach, lettuce, cabbage, komatsuna, and similar greens. Used as a category term in cooking, agriculture, and nutrition.
葉菜(ようさい)栄養(えいよう)豊富(ほうふ)だ。
Leafy vegetables are rich in nutrients.
ほうれん(そう)やレタスなどの葉菜(ようさい)毎日(まいにち)()べている。
I eat leafy vegetables like spinach and lettuce every day.
葉菜(ようさい)鮮度(せんど)()ちやすいので、(はや)めに使(つか)()った(ほう)がいい。
Leafy vegetables lose their freshness quickly, so it's better to use them up early.

A classification term used in cooking, agriculture, and grocery contexts. Also written as 葉菜類(ようさいるい) (leafy vegetable category) as a formal classification. In everyday conversation, 葉物(はもの)野菜(やさい) or 葉物(はもの) is more commonly used.

Note: This is a homophone of 洋裁(ようさい) (Western-style dressmaking) and 要塞(ようさい) (fortress).

EXAMPLES OF 葉菜(ようさい):

  • ほうれん(そう): spinach
  • 小松菜(こまつな): komatsuna
  • レタス: lettuce
  • キャベツ: cabbage
  • 白菜(はくさい): Chinese cabbage
  • 水菜(みずな): mizuna

RELATED VEGETABLE CATEGORIES:

  • 根菜(こんさい): root vegetables (carrots, radishes, etc.)
  • 果菜(かさい): fruit vegetables (tomatoes, eggplants, etc.)
  • 豆類(まめるい): legumes