ji3薏
Jyutpingji3
Yaleyi
Definition
Job's tears or lotus seed.
- the seed of the Job's tears plant
- the seed or plumule of the lotus
colloquialfoodhealth
How it's used
Refers almost exclusively to the grain used in traditional Chinese medicine and soups, known as 薏米. It is highly valued in Cantonese culture for its cooling properties, often paired with red beans or lotus seeds to reduce dampness in the body. You will rarely see the character used alone in daily speech, as it is almost always part of the compound 薏米.
Examples
Boiling Job's tear water is great for clearing internal heat.
Related words
Common phrases
Common mistake
Do not confuse 薏米 with 蓮子, which are lotus seeds. While both are used in similar health soups, they are distinct ingredients with different textures and medicinal functions.
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.
