noun
Rare native Japanese word for cabbage; almost always replaced by キャベツ in modern usage. May appear in historical or literary contexts.
See also: キャベツ
古い文献では「玉菜」がキャベツを指すことがある。
In old documents, 玉菜 can refer to cabbage.
The standard modern word for cabbage. 玉菜 is a rare, mostly obsolete synonym.
Compound of 玉 (tama, 'ball') + 菜 (na, 'greens, vegetable'), referring to the round shape of a cabbage head. The exact historical derivation is uncertain.