gap3 lei4蛤蜊
Jyutpinggap3 lei4
Yalegap lèih
Definition
Edible clam; a general term including various edible bivalves like venus clams.
colloquialfood
How it's used
While 蛤蜊 is understood in Hong Kong, locals overwhelmingly prefer the term 蜆 to describe these bivalves in daily life. Using 蛤蜊 often sounds slightly more formal or influenced by written Chinese or Mandarin, whereas 蜆 is the go-to word for any casual conversation at a wet market or restaurant.
Measure word
zek3隻jekExamples
Let's go to the market tonight to buy some clams to cook at home.
Are these clams very fresh?
Related words
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with the Mandarin pronunciation or usage, as Cantonese speakers will almost always use 蜆 for common edible clams. Using 蛤蜊 might make you sound like you are reading from a menu or a textbook rather than speaking naturally.
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.
