mai5 zau2米酒

Jyutpingmai5 zau2

Yalemáih jáu

名詞

Definition

Rice wine; an alcoholic beverage fermented from rice, used for drinking or cooking.

colloquialfooddrink

How it's used

Primarily used as a cooking ingredient in Hong Kong kitchens to remove the fishy or gamey smell from meat and seafood. While it is technically an alcoholic beverage, it is rarely served as a drink in a casual dining context compared to other spirits. It is distinct from stronger distilled spirits like 茅台 or 高粱酒 which are meant for sipping.

Measure word

zi1支jī

Examples

zyu2煮sung3餸go2嗰zan6陣lok6落siu2少siu2少mai5米zau2酒wui2會hoeng1香di1啲㗎。

Adding a little rice wine when cooking makes it smell better.

nei5你uk1屋kei2企zung6仲jau5有mou5冇mai5米zau2酒aa4呀？

Do you still have any rice wine at home?

Common phrases

lok6落mai5米zau2酒

to add rice wine

pik1辟seng1腥

to remove fishy smell

Common mistake

Do not confuse this with 糯米酒, which is a sweet, fermented glutinous rice wine often served as a dessert or tonic. Using the wrong type can significantly alter the flavor profile of your dish.