gau2 wong4韮黃韭黄
Jyutpinggau2 wong4
Yalegáu wòhng
Definition
Yellow chives; hotbed chives which have been grown in the dark and are yellow and tender.
colloquialfooddim sum
How it's used
Yellow chives are grown in the dark to prevent chlorophyll production, resulting in their distinct pale yellow color and milder flavor compared to green garlic chives. They are a staple in Cantonese stir-fries and dim sum fillings, prized for their delicate texture and aroma. Unlike green chives, they wilt very quickly and should be added at the very end of the cooking process to maintain their crunch.
Measure word
zaat3紮jatExamples
This plate of scrambled eggs with yellow chives smells so good.
Do you like eating shredded pork stir-fried with yellow chives?
Related words
Common phrases
scrambled eggs with yellow chives
shredded pork with yellow chives
Common mistake
Learners often confuse 韮黃 with 韮菜, which are the green, more pungent version of the plant. Using the wrong one can significantly change the flavor profile of a dish, as 韮黃 is much sweeter and less fibrous.
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).



