fo2 hau4火候

Jyutpingfo2 hau4

Yalefó hàuh

名詞

Definition

The heat and cooking duration in culinary art; also a metaphor for one's level of skill and maturity.

duration and intensity of heat used in cooking
figurativelevel of skill, maturity, or sophistication

colloquialfoodpeople

How it's used

Beyond the literal culinary context of heat control, this term is frequently used metaphorically to describe someone's level of experience or professional maturity. When applied to a person, it suggests that they have spent enough time in their field to develop a refined and reliable skill set. It carries a positive connotation of patience and accumulated wisdom.

Examples

le1呢bou1煲tong1湯bou1煲zo2咗gam3咁noi6耐，fo2火hau4候ngaam1啱ngaam1啱hou2好。

This soup has been boiling for so long, the heat and timing are just right.

nei5你zyu2煮je5嘢sik6食fo2火hau4候zung6仲caa1差di1啲，jiu3要zoi3再lin6練haa5下。

Your cooking technique still lacks a bit of finesse, you need to practice more.

Common phrases

gau3夠saai3晒fo2火hau4候

perfectly cooked or highly experienced

fo2火hau4候bat1不zuk1足

insufficient heat or lacking experience

Common mistake

Do not confuse this with the simple act of turning up the heat, which is usually described as 加火. It specifically refers to the combination of time and temperature required to achieve a perfect result, rather than just the intensity of the flame itself.