cau1煪
Jyutpingcau1
Yalechāu
Definition
To smoke, or to burn with fire.
colloquialfooddaily actions
How it's used
Primarily refers to the process of exposing food to smoke for preservation or flavor, but it is also used colloquially to describe filling a space with thick smoke. It carries a sense of intensity, implying that the smoke is thick enough to be suffocating or overwhelming. When used for food, it specifically highlights the cooking method rather than just the flavor profile.
Examples
This piece of meat has been smoked for a long time, it smells great.
Related words
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with 燒, which generally refers to grilling or roasting over an open flame. While 煪 involves smoke, 燒 focuses on direct heat contact.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- Aspect markersCantonese has no tenses, but it does have aspect markers. Learn how zo2, gwo3, gan2, and hai2 dou6 show completion, experience, and ongoing action.
- In 30 secondsThe whole language at a glance. No tenses, no plurals, six tones, sentence particles. Read this before you dive into any specific topic.
- ParticlesSentence particles add tone, emotion, and nuance. Learn the most common particles in Cantonese and how to use them.
