ngaau4熬
Jyutpingngaau4
Yalengàauh
Definition
To stew over low heat, or to endure a difficult time.
- to simmer or stew over low heat to reduce liquid
- to endure, hold out, or suffer through a difficult time
colloquialfooddaily actions
How it's used
Focuses on the process of long, slow cooking to extract flavor or thicken a liquid. It implies patience and time, often used for soups, congee, or medicinal tonics. In casual speech, it is frequently used metaphorically to describe enduring hardship or pulling an all-nighter.
Examples
This soup has been stewed for a long time, it's very sweet.
Related words
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with 捱, which sounds identical in many contexts but refers to enduring suffering or working through difficult times. While 熬 can be used for both cooking and suffering, 捱 is strictly for the latter.
Grammar color guide
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Verb
Adjective
Adverb
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Classifier
Particle
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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.
