hou4 si2蠔豉蚝豉
Jyutpinghou4 si2
Yalehòuh sí
Definition
Dried or wind-dried oyster, often eaten as an auspicious food.
colloquialfoodfestival
How it's used
Dried oysters are a staple of Cantonese festive cuisine, especially during Lunar New Year. Their popularity stems from the homophony between 蠔豉 and 好市, which implies good business and prosperity. They are typically braised with black moss, known as 髮菜, to create a dish that symbolizes wealth and abundance.
Measure word
zek3隻jekExamples
We definitely cook dried oysters at home during Chinese New Year.
Related words
Common phrases
braised dried oysters with black moss
Common mistake
Learners often confuse the pronunciation with the standard word for oyster, 蠔, but remember that 豉 here is read as si2, not the common si6 found in 豆豉.
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.
