gaan2 seoi2 zung2鹼水粽硷水粽
Jyutpinggaan2 seoi2 zung2
Yalegáan séui júng
Definition
Lye rice dumpling, a glutinous rice dumpling made with alkaline water.
colloquialfoodfestival
How it's used
These dumplings are distinct for their yellow hue and chewy, alkaline texture, which comes from the lye water used during preparation. Unlike savory meat-filled versions, they are typically served as a sweet treat or a simple snack. They are almost exclusively associated with the Dragon Boat Festival, making them a seasonal staple in local households.
Measure word
zek3隻jekExamples
Eating a lye rice dumpling on the Dragon Boat Festival really sets the mood.
Do you prefer dipping your lye rice dumpling in sugar or honey?
Related words
Common phrases
dip in granulated sugar
red bean paste lye rice dumpling
Common mistake
Learners often confuse the spelling of 鹼 with 梘, as both are used to refer to soap or alkaline substances. While 梘 is common in everyday writing for soap, 鹼 is the standard character used in the specific name of this food item.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- QuestionsFrom yes or no questions to asking who, what, where, and when. The patterns you need to ask questions naturally in Cantonese.
- ClassifiersCantonese puts a classifier between a number and a noun, and a bare classifier on its own can mean the. Learn the common ones and how to use them.
- ComparisonsHow to say bigger than, the most, the same as, and not as good as. Cantonese uses 過 where Mandarin uses 比, and that catches a lot of learners out.
