faan1 gwai2 lai6 zi1番鬼荔枝
Jyutpingfaan1 gwai2 lai6 zi1
Yalefāan gwái laih jī
Definition
Sugar-apple or cherimoya, a fruit with a bumpy greyish-green skin and white flesh.
colloquialfood
How it's used
The name reflects a common pattern in Cantonese where foreign or exotic fruits are prefixed with 番鬼 to indicate they are not native to the region. While the literal translation suggests a connection to lychees, the texture and taste are quite distinct, being creamy and custard-like rather than translucent and juicy. It is a popular fruit in local markets during the summer months.
Measure word
go3個goExamples
I really like eating sugar-apples, they are very sweet.
Related words
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with the standard 荔枝, as they are completely different fruits. The term is strictly used for the sugar-apple and is not interchangeable with other tropical fruits that might look similar.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- Directional complementsThe small words added after a verb to show direction of movement, like up, down, out, in, and back. Common in everyday Cantonese.
- DemonstrativesThis and that with 呢 and 嗰, the personal pronouns, and how 哋 turns I, you, and he into we, you all, and they.
- Resultative complementsSticking a result word onto a verb to show how it turned out, like eat until full or look and find. A productive everyday pattern.
