ngau4 jyun2牛丸
Jyutpingngau4 jyun2
Yalengàuh yún
Definition
Beef ball; a meatball made of beef, sometimes with pork added.
colloquialfood
How it's used
Beef balls are a staple in local noodle shops, often served with flat rice noodles. The texture is famously springy, which is why the term 彈牙 is almost always used to describe a good quality one. While they are primarily beef, many recipes incorporate a small amount of pork fat to improve the flavor and texture.
Measure word
nap1粒nāpExamples
The beef balls here are very bouncy and chewy.
Related words
Common mistake
Do not confuse the texture of a beef ball with that of a meatball in Western cuisine, which is typically softer and less elastic. The term 彈牙 specifically refers to this signature bouncy resistance that is highly prized in Cantonese food culture.
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.
