rau

/râːw/
nounBeginner
informal

Vegetable, greens, or leafy plants used as food

Tôi mua rau tươi ở chợ.

I bought fresh vegetables at the market.

Rau xanh rất tốt cho sức khỏe.

Leafy greens are very good for health.

💡

Can refer to both raw and cooked vegetables, but often implies freshness.

Collocations

rau xanhleafy greensrau muốngmorning glory (vegetable)rau diếpwater spinach

Synonyms

Antonyms

Related Phrases

rau muốngphrase
morning glory (vegetable)
rau diếpphrase
water spinach

💡Pro Tip

Common Vegetable Names

Many Vietnamese vegetable names are compound words combining 'rau' with another word (e.g., 'rau muống', 'rau diếp').

Gold Rule

Freshness Implication

When used alone, 'rau' often implies freshness, while cooked vegetables may be specified as 'rau luộc' (boiled vegetables).

📖Word Origin

From Proto-Vietic *ʔɟaːw (leaf, vegetable), related to modern Vietnamese 'lá' (leaf).

📝Usage Notes

In Vietnamese cuisine, 'rau' often refers to vegetables used in soups, stir-fries, or fresh salads. The term can be specific to leafy greens or more general depending on context.

Word Breakdown

rau
vegetable
root
Từ Điển Việt Anh