jau4魷鱿
Jyutpingjau4
Yaleyàuh
Definition
Squid, especially when used at the end of a word or collocation.
colloquialfooddim sum
How it's used
Used almost exclusively as a bound morpheme in culinary contexts, this character is rarely spoken in isolation to mean squid. It functions as a shorthand for 魷魚 in menu items and food descriptions, often appearing in compound dishes. The full term 魷魚 is the standard way to refer to the animal itself in daily conversation.
Examples
Shall we go to the restaurant tonight to eat salt and pepper squid?
This plate of sizzling squid is really crunchy and delicious.
Related words
Common mistake
Avoid using this character as a standalone noun in casual speech, as it sounds incomplete or overly formal like a menu abbreviation. Always use 魷魚 when referring to the creature or the ingredient in a general sense.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- NegationHow to say no, not, didn't, and don't in Cantonese. The four main negation words and when to use each one.
- Numbers and moneyCounting, talking about money, and asking how much things cost. Includes the two words for two and the everyday words for dollars and cents.
- 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.
