cau1 dou1 jyu2秋刀魚秋刀鱼
Jyutpingcau1 dou1 jyu2
Yalechāu dōu yú
Definition
Pacific saury; a saltwater fish with a long, slender body resembling a knife.
colloquialfood
How it's used
This fish is a staple in Japanese-style restaurants throughout Hong Kong. It is prized for its distinct, slightly bitter flavor, which is considered a mark of quality when grilled with salt. Unlike many other fish, it is almost exclusively served whole, making it a common sight in izakaya settings.
Measure word
tiu4條tìuhExamples
Shall we pan-fry a Pacific saury for dinner tonight?
This Pacific saury is a bit bitter, maybe it's not fresh enough.
Related words
Common phrases
salt-grilled Pacific saury
Common mistake
Beginners often mistake the natural bitterness of the fish intestines for spoilage. It is perfectly normal for the belly area to taste bitter, so do not assume the fish has gone bad just because of that specific flavor profile.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
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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.
