菜系 (càixì): (regional) cuisine

Measure Word

一个菜系 gè

Zhōngguó yǒu bā dà càixì.

China has eight great regional cuisines.

Nǐ xǐhuān nǎge càixì?

Which cuisine do you like?

usage

系 ('system, lineage') here treats a cuisine as a distinct tradition, not just dishes. Compare 语系 (language family) and 派系 (faction).

菜 cài

系 xì