napa cabbage
Americannoun
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a type of Chinese cabbage, Brassica rapa pekinensis, with broad, ruffled, light green leaves that form a cylindrical, compact head, originating in the vicinity of Beijing and now widely cultivated in Europe, North America, and Australia.
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the leaves and stalks of this plant eaten as a raw or cooked vegetable, especially in East Asian cuisine.
Etymology
Origin of napa cabbage
First recorded in 1935–40; from Japanese dialect nappa “greens, salad greens,” equivalent to na “green” + -pa, combining form of ha “leaf”
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
There’s also mille-feuille nabe, a Japanese hot pot dish that’s layered with napa cabbage and thin slices of pork belly simmered in dashi broth.
From Salon • Feb. 21, 2026
Chop up a napa cabbage, and rub salt into the leaves to relax them.
From New York Times • Jul. 9, 2019
There’s an oxtail-and-filet mignon pho on the menu along with pan-seared duck breast with pinot noir-cherry sauce and tempura-fried avocado with marinated napa cabbage and spicy aioli.
From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 19, 2019
The H Street ramen spot mixes pork with soy sauce, sesame oil, chili oil, scallions, napa cabbage and togarashi seasoning before stuffing it into a pouch that’s steamed or fried.
From Washington Post • Mar. 9, 2017
Paige and Tan instantly disliked the kimchi, which subs green cabbage for traditional napa cabbage, and again uses salt to ferment.
From Seattle Times • Nov. 14, 2016
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
