haam4 seoi2 cou2鹹水草咸水草
Jyutpinghaam4 seoi2 cou2
Yalehàahm séui chóu
Definition
Short-leaved Malacea galingale; a type of sedge grass used for weaving mats or tying food.
colloquialfooddaily actions
How it's used
This plant is historically significant in Hong Kong as the primary eco-friendly packaging material before the widespread use of plastic bags. It is remarkably strong and durable, making it ideal for bundling heavy items like fresh fish or bundles of vegetables. Mentioning it often evokes a sense of nostalgia for traditional wet market culture.
Measure word
tiu4條tìuhExamples
In the past, when buying groceries at the market, fish were always tied up with salty water grass.
Common phrases
to tie with salty water grass
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
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.
