noun
kitchen waste; vegetable scraps
Refers to leftover food scraps, particularly vegetable trimmings and peelings, often in the context of kitchen disposal or composting.
残菜は堆肥にしています。
We compost our kitchen scraps.
料理の後、残菜を分別して捨ててください。
After cooking, please separate and dispose of the vegetable scraps.
生ごみ is a broader term for all kitchen garbage, including cooked leftovers and spoiled food, while 残菜 specifically refers to vegetable scraps and trimmings.
Compound of 残 (ざん, 'remaining') and 菜 (さい, 'vegetable'). The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but the kanji directly reflect the meaning of leftover vegetable matter.