gau2韭
Jyutpinggau2
Yalegáu
Definition
Garlic chives (Allium tuberosum); a plant with edible stalks and flowers often used in Chinese cuisine.
colloquialfooddim sum
How it's used
Distinguish clearly between the leaves, referred to as 韭菜, and the flowering stalks, known as 韭菜花. While both are used in stir-fries, the texture of the flower buds is crunchier and often considered more delicate. You will frequently see them paired with proteins like pork or squid in local stir-fry dishes.
Measure word
zaat3紮jatExamples
Shall we stir-fry a plate of garlic chive flowers tonight?
The garlic chives here are very fresh, let's buy some to take home.
Related words
Common phrases
stir-fried garlic chives with egg
garlic chive dumplings
Common mistake
Do not confuse 韭菜 with 葱, as they have distinct flavors and culinary uses. While 葱 is often used as a garnish or aromatic, 韭菜 is treated as a primary vegetable ingredient.
Grammar color guide
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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.
