菜食

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 菜食 is read as さいしょく and is vegetarian food or a vegetarian diet centered on plant foods rather than meat or fish.
• Basic usage: Use 菜食の献立 for a vegetarian menu and 質素な菜食を続ける for continuing a simple vegetarian diet.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• Distinction between 菜食 and 野菜
  • The headword denotes a dietary pattern or food prepared for it, while the comparison term denotes vegetables as ingredients.