haam4 daan2鹹蛋咸蛋
Jyutpinghaam4 daan2
Yalehàahm dáan
Definition
Salted egg, usually a preserved duck egg with a reddish-orange yolk.
colloquialfooddim sum
How it's used
Beyond being a breakfast staple with congee, this is a quintessential ingredient in Cantonese cuisine, particularly in mooncakes and dim sum like lotus seed buns. The yolk is prized for its rich, oily texture and vibrant orange color, often used to add depth to stir-fried dishes. It is common to see it paired with bitter melon or steamed with minced pork.
Measure word
zek3隻jekExamples
Shall we add a salted egg to the steamed meat patty tonight?
Do you prefer eating the salted egg yolk or the egg white more?
Related words
Common phrases
salted egg yolk
steamed meat patty with salted egg
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with 皮蛋, which is a preserved century egg with a dark, jelly-like texture. While both are preserved eggs, they have completely different preparation methods and flavor profiles.
Grammar color guide
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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.
