napa

IPA/ˈnæpə/
KK[nˈæpə]IPA/ˈnæpə/

napa — noun

  • napasingular
  • napasplural

1. a kind of Chinese cabbage with a long, packed shape, tender light-green leaves,

1.nounC1
Definition

a kind of Chinese cabbage with a long, packed shape, tender light-green leaves, and thick white stalks

Example

Sari chopped napa into the pork filling for homemade dumplings.

napa in dumpling filling

At the market, Kofi chose two heads of napa for soup.

two heads of napa

Common collocations
  • napa cabbage
  • napa leaves
  • head of napa
  • chopped napa
  • stir-fried napa
Synonyms
  • napa cabbage

    the full name; clearer than the short form outside recipe contexts

  • Chinese cabbage

    a broader everyday label that often refers to napa in cooking contexts

Grammar Patterns

napa cabbage

a head of napa

Usage Note

Often used in cooking and shopping contexts. In recipes, people frequently use the short form 'napa', while in general descriptions they may say 'napa cabbage' or 'Chinese cabbage'.

Common Mistakes

I made kimchi with lettuce.
I made kimchi with napa.
Napa is a type of cabbage used in many cooked dishes, not a kind of lettuce.

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

These words all name leafy vegetables, but they are used in different ways. 'Napa' is a specific kind of Chinese cabbage with soft leaves and thick white stalks, often used in soups, dumplings, hot pot, and kimchi. 'Cabbage' is the broad general word and can also mean round green or red cabbages. 'Bok choy' is another Chinese vegetable, but it has darker leaves and firmer, spoon-shaped stalks, so recipes usually treat it differently. 'Lettuce' is eaten mainly raw in salads and has a lighter, less sweet flavor. You can say 'Add chopped napa to the broth,' but 'Add chopped lettuce to the broth' suggests a different dish.

napa ↗cabbage ↗bok choylettuce ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Phrases

  • a head of napa
  • add napa to soup
  • stir-fry napa with garlic