caau2炒

Jyutpingcaau2

Yalecháau

動詞Very common

Definition

To stir-fry; also to speculate in buying and selling for quick profits.

to stir-fry; to fry in a wok while stirring continuously
to speculate; to buy low and sell high for quick profit

colloquialfoodmoney

How it's used

Beyond the literal culinary sense, this term is frequently used in business and finance to describe speculative trading, often with a negative connotation of trying to make a quick profit. When used in this metaphorical sense, it implies a high level of risk and volatility, similar to how food can easily burn if left in the wok for too long. It is a very common way to describe flipping stocks, property, or even limited edition sneakers.

Examples

nei5你gam1今maan5晚soeng2想sik6食me1咩caau2炒faan6飯aa4呀？

What kind of fried rice do you want to eat tonight?

le1呢dip2碟ngau4牛juk6肉caau2炒dak1得hou2好nyun6嫩waat6滑。

This plate of stir-fried beef is cooked very tenderly.

Related words

Common phrases

caau2炒faan6飯

fried rice

caau2炒jau4魷jyu2魚

to be fired from a job

caau2炒gu2股

to speculate on stocks

Common mistake

Do not confuse the culinary action with the slang usage of being fired from a job, which is often expressed as 俾人炒. While both use the same character, the context of employment is distinct from the act of cooking or financial speculation.