gau2 wong4韭黃韭黄
Jyutpinggau2 wong4
Yalegáu wòhng
Definition
Yellow chives; a slender, flat vegetable cultivated in the dark during winter.
colloquialfooddim sum
How it's used
Leek sprouts are grown in the dark to prevent chlorophyll production, resulting in their signature pale yellow color and delicate texture. They are prized for their mild, sweet flavor compared to the pungent bite of regular chives. In Cantonese cuisine, they are almost exclusively used in stir-fries, often paired with scrambled eggs or shredded meat.
Measure word
zaat3紮jatExamples
Shall we stir-fry a plate of leek sprouts with shredded pork tonight?
The leek sprouts here are very fresh, let's buy some to take home.
Related words
Common phrases
scrambled eggs with leek sprouts
shredded pork with leek sprouts
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with 韭菜, which are the mature, dark green, and much stronger-smelling chives. Using 韭菜 when a recipe calls for 韭黃 will completely overpower the dish with a sharp, garlicky flavor.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
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Grammar guides
- Aspect markersCantonese has no tenses, but it does have aspect markers. Learn how zo2, gwo3, gan2, and hai2 dou6 show completion, experience, and ongoing action.
- 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.
