Chinese cabbage
noun
: either of two Asian brassicas now grown in the U.S. and widely used as greens:
a
: bok choy
b
: one (Brassica rapa var. pekinensis) that forms elongate more or less solid cylindrical heads and has pale green or cream-colored leaves
Examples of Chinese cabbage in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Helpful Hints Bok Choy can be used instead of Chinese cabbage leaves.
—
Linda Gassenheimer, Boston Herald, 10 Sep. 2025
There are so many different types of cabbages—green and red, which are great for coleslaw, Napa (also known as Chinese cabbage) and Savoy.
—Amy Brightfield, Better Homes & Gardens, 7 Sep. 2025
Crops that can be seeded until late July to early August are Chinese cabbage, small carrots, broccoli, kale, turnips, turnip greens and beets.
—Special To The Denver Post, Denver Post, 19 Aug. 2025
For central Maryland, mid-March is a good time to direct-sow (planting the seed outside, rather than starting them indoors first) Chinese cabbage, leaf lettuce, peas, radishes, beets, spinach, and turnips.
—Miri Talabac, Baltimore Sun, 13 Mar. 2025
There are more than 400 varieties of cabbage, but green cabbage, red (purple) cabbage, and napa cabbage (also known as Chinese cabbage) are the most popular.
—Daryl Austin, USA TODAY, 16 Jan. 2025
Other members of the cabbage family, including broccoli and Chinese cabbage, also benefit from the pairing.
—Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 17 July 2024
With a total of 100 points, the winner in the ranking of the healthiest foods even beats Chinese cabbage (91.99 points), Swiss chard (89.27 points), beetroot (87.08 points), and also spinach (86.43 points).
—Philipp Wehsack, Vogue, 1 Aug. 2023
On the plant side of the equation, a study in a 2003 issue of the journal Ultrasonics investigated the effects of classical music and the sounds of birds, insects and water on the growth of Chinese cabbage and cucumber.
—Stacey Colino, Washington Post, 11 Jan. 2023
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Linda Gassenheimer, Boston Herald, 10 Sep. 2025
There are so many different types of cabbages—green and red, which are great for coleslaw, Napa (also known as Chinese cabbage) and Savoy.
—Amy Brightfield, Better Homes & Gardens, 7 Sep. 2025
Crops that can be seeded until late July to early August are Chinese cabbage, small carrots, broccoli, kale, turnips, turnip greens and beets.
—Special To The Denver Post, Denver Post, 19 Aug. 2025
For central Maryland, mid-March is a good time to direct-sow (planting the seed outside, rather than starting them indoors first) Chinese cabbage, leaf lettuce, peas, radishes, beets, spinach, and turnips.
—Miri Talabac, Baltimore Sun, 13 Mar. 2025
There are more than 400 varieties of cabbage, but green cabbage, red (purple) cabbage, and napa cabbage (also known as Chinese cabbage) are the most popular.
—Daryl Austin, USA TODAY, 16 Jan. 2025
Other members of the cabbage family, including broccoli and Chinese cabbage, also benefit from the pairing.
—Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 17 July 2024
With a total of 100 points, the winner in the ranking of the healthiest foods even beats Chinese cabbage (91.99 points), Swiss chard (89.27 points), beetroot (87.08 points), and also spinach (86.43 points).
—Philipp Wehsack, Vogue, 1 Aug. 2023
On the plant side of the equation, a study in a 2003 issue of the journal Ultrasonics investigated the effects of classical music and the sounds of birds, insects and water on the growth of Chinese cabbage and cucumber.
—Stacey Colino, Washington Post, 11 Jan. 2023
Cite this Entry
“Chinese cabbage.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Chinese%20cabbage. Accessed 31 Oct. 2025.
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