saang1 fan2生粉
Jyutpingsaang1 fan2
Yalesāang fán
Definition
Starch used in cooking as a thickener, typically tapioca starch, cornstarch, or potato starch.
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How it's used
Refers generically to any white starch powder used for thickening sauces or marinating meat. While specifically often referring to cornstarch or tapioca starch, it is the standard term used in home kitchens regardless of the exact botanical source. It is essential for achieving the glossy, thickened texture characteristic of many Cantonese stir-fry dishes.
Measure word
baau1包bāuExamples
Remember to add a little starch to thicken the sauce.
Related words
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with 麵粉, which is wheat flour used for baking or making dough. Using 麵粉 to thicken a sauce will result in a lumpy, pasty texture rather than the smooth, translucent finish provided by 生粉.
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.
