pou4 daat6菩薘菩荙
Jyutpingpou4 daat6
Yalepòuh daaht
Definition
Bitter melon; bitter gourd.
colloquialfood
How it's used
涼瓜 is the standard term for bitter melon in Cantonese, while 菩薘 is a very rare, archaic, or literary variant that most native speakers will not recognize in daily life. Using 涼瓜 ensures you are understood in any market or restaurant setting in Hong Kong. The vegetable is highly valued in Cantonese cuisine for its cooling properties, especially during hot and humid weather.
Measure word
tiu4條tìuhRelated words
Common phrases
stir-fried bitter melon with beef
bitter melon with pork ribs
Common mistake
Do not use 菩薘 in a restaurant or market, as the staff will likely be confused. Stick to 涼瓜 to avoid communication issues.
Grammar color guide
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Grammar guides
- LocationHow to say where something is using 喺 (hai2), place words like 度, and the common coverbs that work like English prepositions.
- Serial verbsStringing two or more verbs together without any joining word, like go to the shop buy things. Extremely common in Cantonese.
- 將 disposalHow to move the object in front of the verb with 將, to focus on what happens to it. Common in instructions and writing.
