lung4 ngaan5龍眼龙眼

Jyutpinglung4 ngaan5

Yalelùngh ngánh

Definition

Longan fruit.

colloquialfood

How it's used

People often refer to this fruit as 桂圓 when it is dried and used in traditional Chinese medicine or soups. While the fresh fruit is commonly called 龍眼, you will frequently hear older generations or market vendors refer to it as 桂圓肉 when sold in its dried, pitted form.

Measure word

nap1粒nāp

Examples

ni1 di1 lung4 ngaan5 hou2 tim4 aa4 nei5 sik6 gei2 nap1 laa1

呢啲龍眼好甜呀，你食幾粒啦。

These longans are very sweet, have a few.

nei5 maai5 zo2 gei2 do1 gan1 lung4 ngaan5 faan1 uk1 kei2 aa4

你買咗幾多斤龍眼返屋企呀？

How many catties of longans did you buy to bring home?

Common phrases

lung4 ngaan5 gon1

龍眼乾

dried longans

lung4 ngaan5 juk6

龍眼肉

longan pulp

Common mistake

Do not confuse this with 荔枝, which has a bumpy, reddish skin and a different texture. Longans are smaller, smoother, and have a distinct, musky sweetness compared to the floral profile of lychees.