bin2 tou4扁桃
Jyutpingbin2 tou4
Yalebín tòuh
Definition
Almond; the edible seed of the almond tree.
neutralfood
How it's used
Most Cantonese speakers exclusively use 杏仁 to refer to almonds in daily life, even though botanically it is a different species from the apricot kernel. The term 扁桃 is almost exclusively found in scientific or agricultural contexts and would sound unnatural in a grocery store or restaurant. When buying snacks, people simply ask for 杏仁.
Measure word
nap1粒nāpRelated words
Common mistake
Do not confuse 杏仁 with 桃仁, which refers to the seed of a peach. While they look similar, they are distinct in culinary use and traditional medicine.
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.
