Gai Choy
/ˌɡaɪ ˈtʃɔɪ/noun
A leafy Asian mustard green, especially associated with Cantonese cuisine.
Did you know?Gai choy belongs to the mustard family, whose characteristic heat comes from glucosinolates released when its cells are crushed or chewed—not from added spices.
Etymological Timeline
Old Chinese
Old Chinese
芥
“Mustard plant or mustard seed; the precise pronunciation is reconstructed by historical linguists.”
Middle Chinese
Middle Chinese
芥菜 (kaeH-tshaeH)
“Mustard vegetable; the compound combines 芥 “mustard” with 菜 “vegetable.””
Cantonese
Cantonese
芥菜 (gaai3 coi3)
“Mustard greens or mustard vegetable.”
20th Century
English
gai choy
“An English culinary transcription of Cantonese gaai coi, used for the leafy mustard green.”
Modern English
English
gai choy
“A common English name for Cantonese-style mustard greens.”