• 野菜やさい — vegetables
• 青菜あおな — leafy greens
• 菜なの花はな — rapeseed blossom
• 菜食さいしょく — vegetarian diet
• 菜園さいえん — vegetable garden
• 前菜ぜんさい — appetizer

A 形声文字 (semantic–phonetic compound). 艹 (くさかんむり) indicates plants or vegetation, while 采 (phonetic, サイ) provides the sound. Together, the character refers to edible plants — vegetables, greens, or side dishes.