kwai4 gwaa1 zi2葵瓜子
Jyutpingkwai4 gwaa1 zi2
Yalekwàih gwā jí
Definition
Sunflower seeds.
colloquialfoodfestival
How it's used
People in Hong Kong almost always refer to these simply as 瓜子 in casual conversation. The full name 葵瓜子 is usually reserved for packaging labels or when you need to be specific about the variety to distinguish it from watermelon seeds or pumpkin seeds. It is a classic snack often served during Lunar New Year gatherings.
Measure word
nap1粒nāpExamples
How many sunflower seeds did you buy to take home?
It is most enjoyable to eat sunflower seeds while watching a movie.
Related words
Common phrases
to crack sunflower seeds
a bag of sunflower seeds
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with 瓜子, which is a generic term that most people assume refers to watermelon seeds unless specified otherwise. If you just ask for 瓜子 at a shop, you might get the black watermelon seed variety instead of sunflower seeds.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- LocationHow to say where something is using 喺 (hai2), place words like 度, and the common coverbs that work like English prepositions.
- Serial verbsStringing two or more verbs together without any joining word, like go to the shop buy things. Extremely common in Cantonese.
- 將 disposalHow to move the object in front of the verb with 將, to focus on what happens to it. Common in instructions and writing.
