maa4 jau4麻油
Jyutpingmaa4 jau4
Yalemàh yàuh
Definition
Sesame oil; cooking oil made from sesame seeds.
colloquialfood
How it's used
Sesame oil is a staple seasoning in Cantonese kitchens, primarily used as a finishing touch rather than a cooking fat. It is almost always added at the very end of the cooking process to preserve its delicate aroma, which dissipates quickly under high heat. You will frequently see it used to dress steamed vegetables, season congee, or enhance the flavor of dipping sauces.
Measure word
zeon1樽jēunExamples
Adding a little sesame oil to noodles makes them much more fragrant.
Do you still have any sesame oil to use at home?
Related words
Common phrases
add a few drops of sesame oil
fragrant sesame oil
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with the heavy, unrefined sesame oil used in some other cuisines for deep frying. In Hong Kong, it is strictly a condiment or flavor enhancer, and using it in large quantities for frying will result in a bitter, burnt taste.
Grammar color guide
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Grammar guides
- 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.
- Possession (嘅)How to say my, your, and his, and how to link a describing word to a noun, all with the little word 嘅 (ge3).
