dau6 ngaa4豆芽
Jyutpingdau6 ngaa4
Yaledauh ngàh
Definition
Bean sprouts; germinated bean seedlings, especially from soybeans or mung beans.
colloquialfood
How it's used
Refers specifically to the edible sprouts of legumes, often used as a vegetable in stir-fries or noodle soups. While the term is straightforward, it is frequently used in the slang expression 拍拖仔 to describe a budding, youthful romance, likening the relationship to the delicate, fragile nature of a sprout.
Measure word
zaa6拃jahExamples
This plate of stir-fried bean sprouts is very crunchy.
How many bean sprouts did you buy to cook at home?
Related words
Common phrases
stir-fried bean sprouts
bean sprouts with the ends removed
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with 豆苗, which refers to the edible leaves and tender stems of pea plants, not the sprouted seeds themselves.
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.
