baau1 jyu4鮑魚鲍鱼
Jyutpingbaau1 jyu4
Yalebāau yùh
Definition
Abalone; a type of precious edible sea snail with an oval shell characterized by a row of respiratory pores.
neutralfooddim sum
How it's used
Despite the name containing the character for fish, this is a marine gastropod mollusk. It is considered a high-end luxury ingredient in Cantonese cuisine, often served at weddings or during Lunar New Year celebrations to signify prosperity.
Measure word
zek3隻jekExamples
My family cooked an abalone tonight.
You've eaten so many abalones, which one tastes the best?
Related words
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with other shellfish just because they share the same measure word. It is specifically prized for its texture and status, so using it to refer to common sea snails would be incorrect.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- QuestionsFrom yes or no questions to asking who, what, where, and when. The patterns you need to ask questions naturally in Cantonese.
- ClassifiersCantonese puts a classifier between a number and a noun, and a bare classifier on its own can mean the. Learn the common ones and how to use them.
- ComparisonsHow to say bigger than, the most, the same as, and not as good as. Cantonese uses 過 where Mandarin uses 比, and that catches a lot of learners out.
