faa1 sang1花生
Jyutpingfaa1 sang1
Yalefā sāng
Definition
Peanut; the edible seed of a legume plant with a hard shell, often used as food, an ingredient, or for oil.
colloquialfoodslang
How it's used
Beyond the literal meaning, the term is frequently used in the slang expression 食花生 to describe someone who watches a dramatic event or argument as a bystander without getting involved. It is the Cantonese equivalent of eating popcorn while watching a fight. People often use it to signal that they are just observing the drama unfolding.
Measure word
nap1粒nāpExamples
He really likes eating peanut butter toast.
Related words
Common mistake
Do not confuse the literal food item with the slang usage when someone asks if you want to eat peanuts during a heated argument, as they are likely inviting you to watch the drama rather than offering a snack.
Grammar color guide
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Grammar guides
- 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.
- Possession (嘅)How to say my, your, and his, and how to link a describing word to a noun, all with the little word 嘅 (ge3).
