mak6 jyu4墨魚墨鱼
Jyutpingmak6 jyu4
Yalemahk yùh
Definition
Cuttlefish; a marine mollusk with ten tentacles, a rounded body, and an internal cuttlebone.
colloquialfoodanimals
How it's used
Cuttlefish are prized in Hong Kong cuisine for their firm, chewy texture, often appearing as 墨魚丸 in hot pot or fish ball noodles. Unlike squid, which is typically longer and more streamlined, the cuttlefish is rounder and contains a distinct internal shell known as a cuttlebone. It is a common mistake to assume these are types of fish, as the suffix 魚 is used broadly for many marine animals in Cantonese.
Measure word
zek3隻jekExamples
Let's go eat cuttlefish balls tonight.
This cuttlefish is very fresh, buy it to cook.
Related words
Common mistake
Do not confuse 墨魚 with 魷魚. While both are cephalopods, 魷魚 refers to squid, which has a more elongated body shape and lacks the thick, chalky internal bone found in cuttlefish.
Grammar color guide
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Grammar guides
- TonesCantonese has six tones, and the tones can change in certain grammatical contexts. Learn the six tones and the rules for tone change.
- Time and datesClock time, days of the week, months, and years. The patterns you need to make plans and talk about when things happen.
- Modal verbsHow to say can, will, may, should, must, and want. The core modal verbs of Cantonese and the differences that trip up beginners.
