hung1 sam1 coi3空心菜
Jyutpinghung1 sam1 coi3
Yalehūng sām choi
Definition
Water spinach; Ipomoea aquatica (primarily a regional name).
colloquialfooddim sum
How it's used
Locals almost exclusively refer to this vegetable as 通菜 in daily life. While 空心菜 is understood due to exposure to Mandarin media and regional dialects, using it in a Hong Kong wet market might sound slightly foreign or non-local. The name refers to the hollow stems which are a defining characteristic of the vegetable.
Measure word
dip2碟dípRelated words
Common phrases
water spinach stir-fried with fermented bean curd
water spinach stir-fried with minced garlic
Common mistake
Do not use 空心菜 when ordering at a restaurant in Hong Kong, as it is not the standard local term. Stick to 通菜 to ensure clear communication with staff.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
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Pronoun
Classifier
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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.
