noun
A somewhat formal or written term for vegetables in general; in everyday speech, 野菜 (やさい) is more common.
新鮮な蔬菜を市場で買った。
I bought fresh vegetables at the market.
この料理には季節の蔬菜を使っています。
This dish uses seasonal vegetables.
野菜 is the common everyday word for vegetables; 蔬菜 is more formal or literary.
The kanji 蔬 means 'greens' or 'vegetables' and 菜 means 'vegetable' or 'greens'; the compound is a straightforward combination meaning vegetables. The exact historical derivation is uncertain.