jau4 hei3油器
Jyutpingjau4 hei3
Yaleyàuh hei
Definition
Traditional Chinese deep-fried dough foods, such as yautiao, sesame balls, and ox-tongue pastry.
colloquialfoodfestival
How it's used
Refers specifically to traditional Cantonese deep-fried flour-based snacks often found at breakfast or during festivals. While it covers items like 油炸鬼 and 牛脷酥, it is rarely used for modern deep-fried snacks like French fries or fried chicken. The term carries a slightly nostalgic or traditional connotation.
Measure word
zung3種jungExamples
There are many deep-fried treats in the candy box for Lunar New Year.
Do you like eating these kinds of deep-fried snacks?
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often mistake this for a general term for any fried food, but it is restricted to dough-based items. Using it to describe fried meat or vegetables will sound unnatural to native speakers.
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.
