tin4 lo2田螺
Jyutpingtin4 lo2
Yaletìhn ló
Definition
River snail; a type of edible freshwater snail with a cylindrical shell.
colloquialfood
How it's used
Often associated with traditional street food culture in Hong Kong, particularly in dai pai dong settings. It is rarely consumed as a staple food but rather as a popular snack or appetizer paired with beer. The preparation usually involves heavy seasoning with garlic, chili, and black bean sauce to mask the earthy flavor of the snail.
Measure word
zek3隻jekExamples
Let's go eat stir-fried river snails tonight.
Related words
Common phrases
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with the French culinary snail, which is referred to as 法國蝸牛. Using the term for the wrong species can lead to confusion as the preparation methods and cultural contexts are completely different.
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.
