jau4 zi1油螆
Jyutpingjau4 zi1
Yaleyàuh jī
Definition
Grease, cooking fat, or oily residue.
colloquialfoodhome
How it's used
Refers specifically to the thin, often sticky layer of oil or grease that accumulates on kitchen surfaces after cooking. It carries a slightly negative connotation of being messy or unhygienic, unlike the neutral term 油 which just means oil. You will often hear it used when complaining about cleaning up the kitchen.
Measure word
cang4層chànghExamples
There is too much grease in the wok, it feels sticky no matter how much I wash it.
Related words
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with the literal insect 螆, which refers to a louse or small bug. While the pronunciation is similar, the context of cooking or cleaning makes it clear you are talking about grease.
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.
