haau1烤
Jyutpinghaau1
Yalehāau
Definition
To cook food using close, direct heat, such as roasting, baking, grilling, or toasting.
colloquialfooddaily actions
How it's used
While 烤 is understood in Cantonese, it is often replaced by 燒 in casual speech when referring to barbecuing or roasting meat. Use 燒烤 for the general activity of a barbecue, but reserve 烤 specifically for dry heat methods like toasting bread or baking in an oven.
Examples
I want to buy a toaster to take home to toast bread.
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often use 烤 for every cooking method involving heat, but it specifically implies dry heat. For cooking methods involving liquid or steam, use 煲, 蒸, or 煮 instead.
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.
