nan2 coi3撚菜捻菜
Jyutpingnan2 coi3
Yalenán choi
Definition
To cook or prepare food.
colloquialfooddaily actions
How it's used
This term is a highly colloquial way to refer to cooking, often implying a sense of effort or the act of preparing a meal from scratch. It carries a casual, slightly playful tone that is common in domestic settings among friends or family. While it functions as a verb for cooking, it is distinct from the more neutral 煮飯 or 煮嘢食.
Examples
Do you usually cook when you have free time?
He specially stayed home today to cook for me.
Related words
Common mistake
The character 撚 is a vulgar slang term for male genitalia when used in other contexts, so be very careful using this word in formal or professional settings. It is best reserved for close friends or informal social situations to avoid causing offense.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- QuestionsFrom yes or no questions to asking who, what, where, and when. The patterns you need to ask questions naturally in Cantonese.
- ClassifiersCantonese puts a classifier between a number and a noun, and a bare classifier on its own can mean the. Learn the common ones and how to use them.
- ComparisonsHow to say bigger than, the most, the same as, and not as good as. Cantonese uses 過 where Mandarin uses 比, and that catches a lot of learners out.
