saan1 zuk1 ngau4 juk6 kau4山竹牛肉球
Jyutpingsaan1 zuk1 ngau4 juk6 kau4
Yalesāan jūk ngàuh yuhk kàuh
Definition
Steamed beef meatball, a popular Cantonese dim sum dish served on a layer of bean curd sheet.
colloquialdim sumfood
How it's used
The name refers to the water chestnut pieces mixed into the beef, which provide a crunchy texture reminiscent of the texture of a mangosteen. It is almost exclusively served with a side of Worcestershire sauce, which locals call 喼汁. You will rarely see it served without this specific condiment in a traditional tea house.
Measure word
dip2碟dípExamples
You must order a plate of steamed beef balls when having dim sum.
The steamed beef balls here are very bouncy and fresh.
Related words
Common mistake
Do not confuse the name with the fruit mangosteen, which is also called 山竹. While the meatball is named after the fruit due to its texture, they are completely different items.
Grammar color guide
Noun
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Adjective
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Particle
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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.
