sei3 gwai3 gat1四季桔

Jyutpingsei3 gwai3 gat1

Yalesei gwai gāt

Definition

Calamansi; calamondin; a type of small citrus fruit often used as a decorative potted plant during Lunar New Year.

colloquialfoodfestival

How it's used

Often called calamondin in English, this small citrus fruit is a staple during the Lunar New Year in Hong Kong. It is rarely eaten raw due to its intense sourness, but is frequently used to make preserved drinks or as a decorative plant because its name sounds like good fortune. You will mostly see it served as a hot drink with honey in local tea restaurants.

Measure word

go3個go

Examples

ni1呢di1啲sei3四gwai3季gat1桔hou2好syun1酸，m4唔hou2好zik6直zip3接sik6食。

These calamondins are very sour, don't eat them directly.

nei5你maai5買zo2咗gei2幾do1多hap6盒sei3四gwai3季gat1桔faan1返uk1屋kei2企aa4呀？

How many boxes of calamondins did you buy to take home?

Related words

Common phrases

sei3四gwai3季gat1桔mat6蜜

calamondin honey drink

sei3四gwai3季gat1桔pun4盆zoi1栽

potted calamondin plant

Common mistake

Do not confuse this with a standard mandarin orange, which is usually larger and sweeter. While it is a type of citrus, it is specifically used for its tart juice rather than as a snack fruit.