maa4 laat6麻辣
Jyutpingmaa4 laat6
Yalemàh laaht
Definition
Numbing and spicy; the combination of tingling and hot flavors.
colloquialfood
How it's used
Refers specifically to the combination of Sichuan peppercorns, which provide the numbing sensation, and chili peppers, which provide the heat. While often associated with Sichuan cuisine, it has become a staple flavor profile in Hong Kong street food, particularly in fish ball snacks and hotpot culture. It is almost exclusively used to describe food flavors rather than a person's temperament or other abstract concepts.
Examples
The mala soup base at this shop is really good.
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often confuse this with general spicy flavors. Remember that without the numbing sensation from the peppercorns, a dish is just 辣, not 麻辣.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- 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.
- In 30 secondsThe whole language at a glance. No tenses, no plurals, six tones, sentence particles. Read this before you dive into any specific topic.
- ParticlesSentence particles add tone, emotion, and nuance. Learn the most common particles in Cantonese and how to use them.
