gou1 haai5膏蟹
Jyutpinggou1 haai5
Yalegōu háaih
Definition
Female mud crab, prized for having more crab roe than male crabs.
colloquialfooddim sum
How it's used
Focuses specifically on the presence of roe, which is highly prized in Cantonese cuisine. While technically referring to female crabs, the term is almost exclusively used in a culinary context when discussing the quality or richness of the crab meat and roe. It is rarely used to describe the biological sex of the animal outside of a market or restaurant setting.
Measure word
zek3隻jekExamples
Let's go to the restaurant for female mud crab tonight, the roe is so fragrant.
Do you prefer eating meat crab or female mud crab?
Related words
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with 肉蟹, which refers to crabs selected for their meaty claws rather than their roe. Ordering a crab based on sex alone does not guarantee the quality of the roe, so diners often ask if the crab is 爆膏 to ensure it is full of roe.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- TonesCantonese has six tones, and the tones can change in certain grammatical contexts. Learn the six tones and the rules for tone change.
- Time and datesClock time, days of the week, months, and years. The patterns you need to make plans and talk about when things happen.
- Modal verbsHow to say can, will, may, should, must, and want. The core modal verbs of Cantonese and the differences that trip up beginners.
