hoi2 sin1 zoeng3海鮮醬海鲜酱
Jyutpinghoi2 sin1 zoeng3
Yalehói sīn jeung
Definition
Hoisin sauce; a dark-red sauce made from fermented soybean paste, five-spice powder, ginger, garlic, and red vinegar.
colloquialfood
How it's used
Hoisin sauce is a staple condiment in Cantonese cuisine, particularly famous for pairing with roasted meats like Peking duck or suckling pig. Unlike many other sauces, it has a distinctively sweet and savory profile that balances the richness of fatty meats. It is rarely used as a cooking ingredient in the pan, but rather as a dipping sauce served on the side.
Measure word
zeon1樽jēunExamples
You must dip Peking duck in hoisin sauce.
Is there any hoisin sauce left at home?
Related words
Common phrases
dip in hoisin sauce
Common mistake
Learners often confuse it with oyster sauce, which is savory and salty, whereas hoisin sauce is noticeably sweet and thicker in texture.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
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.
