tong4 sat1 jyu2塘蝨魚塘虱鱼
Jyutpingtong4 sat1 jyu2
Yaletòhng sāt yú
Definition
Airbreathing catfish, a family of freshwater fish capable of breathing air.
colloquialfoodanimals
How it's used
Often associated with being a hardy fish that can survive in polluted or low oxygen water, which sometimes carries a negative connotation regarding its cleanliness. It is frequently prepared in home-style cooking, particularly in soups or braised dishes, where its strong flavor is balanced by ginger and scallions.
Measure word
tiu4條tìuhExamples
Are the airbreathing catfish sold at the market tasty?
Mom bought an airbreathing catfish to make soup.
Related words
Common phrases
airbreathing catfish soup
braised catfish with ginger and scallions
Common mistake
Learners often confuse this with general catfish, but in Hong Kong, this specific term refers to the Clarias species, which is distinct from other freshwater fish commonly found in restaurants.
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.
