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Definition of gai lan
gai lan
Plural:gai lan
gai lan Lexical Profile
CEFR
C1
Grade
9
Tier
3
Usage
Rare
• noun
1
A leafy green vegetable of the mustard family characterized by thick, glossy blue-green leaves, crisp stems, and small flower heads, widely cultivated and consumed in Chinese cuisine.
Example
"The chef prepared a simple yet flavorful side dish of steamed gai lan drizzled with oyster sauce and garlic."
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Borrowed into English from the Cantonese pronunciation of 芥蘭 (gaai3 laan4), literally meaning 'mustard orchid'.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.
180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer
Cite this Entry
Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Gai lan. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Oct 15, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/gai lan