seoi2 haai5水蟹

Jyutpingseoi2 haai5

Yaleséui háaih

Definition

Water crab; a type of crab known for its sweet, watery meat and soup-like juices, harvested shortly after molting.

colloquialfooddim sum

How it's used

Refers specifically to mud crabs, which are prized for their soft shells and sweet meat in Cantonese cuisine. While often associated with Macau, these crabs are a staple in local seafood restaurants throughout the region. They are most commonly prepared in congee, where their essence infuses the rice base to create a rich, savory flavor.

Measure word

zek3隻jek

Examples

gam1今maan5晚heoi3去sik6食seoi2水haai5蟹zuk1粥hou2好m4唔hou2好aa4呀？

Shall we go eat mud crab congee tonight?

le1呢zek3隻seoi2水haai5蟹hou2好sau3瘦，mou5冇mat1乜juk6肉sik6食㗎。

This mud crab is very thin, there is not much meat to eat.

Common phrases

seoi2水haai5蟹zuk1粥

mud crab congee

Common mistake

Do not confuse this with general terms for crab like 蟹, as 水蟹 specifically denotes the mud crab species. It is not used to describe crabs that are literally watery or low quality, despite the literal translation of the first character.