min6 si6麪豉面豉
Jyutpingmin6 si6
Yalemihn sih
Definition
Miso; a salty condiment made of fermented, mashed soybeans.
colloquialfood
How it's used
Commonly associated with traditional home-style Cantonese cooking, especially in steamed dishes like steamed fish or pork ribs. It provides a deep, savory umami punch that is distinct from the lighter profile of soy sauce. While often referred to as miso in a Japanese context, the Cantonese version is typically saltier and more pungent due to the fermentation process.
Measure word
zeon1樽jēunExamples
This plate of steamed pork ribs has a little bit of bean sauce added.
Related words
Common phrases
steamed pork ribs with bean sauce
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with 豆豉, which refers to whole, fermented black beans. 麪豉 is a paste, whereas 豆豉 consists of individual beans that are often used whole in stir-fries.
Grammar color guide
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Grammar guides
- Directional complementsThe small words added after a verb to show direction of movement, like up, down, out, in, and back. Common in everyday Cantonese.
- DemonstrativesThis and that with 呢 and 嗰, the personal pronouns, and how 哋 turns I, you, and he into we, you all, and they.
- Resultative complementsSticking a result word onto a verb to show how it turned out, like eat until full or look and find. A productive everyday pattern.
