tong4 sam1溏心

Jyutpingtong4 sam1

Yaletòhng sām

Definition

Soft-boiled or runny, referring to an egg yolk that is half-cooked.

colloquialfood

How it's used

Describes the specific texture of an egg yolk that is still liquid or jammy rather than fully solidified. While often used for soft-boiled eggs, it is also frequently applied to ramen eggs or tea eggs to indicate the desired level of doneness. It implies a high level of culinary precision, as achieving the perfect consistency is considered a sign of a well-prepared dish.

Examples

le1呢zek3隻daan2蛋zyu2煮dak1得hou2好tong4溏sam1心，ngaam1啱saai3晒ngo5我hau2口mei6味。

This egg is cooked perfectly runny, just how I like it.

nei5你zung1鍾m4唔zung1鍾ji3意sik6食tong4溏sam1心daan2蛋aa4呀？

Do you like eating soft-boiled eggs with runny yolks?

Common phrases

tong4溏sam1心daan2蛋

soft-boiled egg with a runny yolk

Common mistake

Do not use this to describe other runny foods like sauces or soups, as it is strictly reserved for egg yolks. It is also not a noun on its own, so it must be paired with 蛋 to refer to the egg itself.