ung3 coi3蕹菜
Jyutpingung3 coi3
Yaleung choi
Definition
Water spinach (Ipomoea aquatica).
colloquialfood
How it's used
People in Hong Kong almost exclusively refer to this vegetable as 通菜 rather than 蕹菜 in daily life. While 蕹菜 is the formal or botanical name, using it in a casual restaurant setting might sound slightly unusual or overly academic to locals. It is most commonly prepared by stir-frying with fermented bean curd, a dish known as 腐乳炒通菜.
Measure word
zaat3紮jatExamples
Shall we have stir-fried water spinach with fermented bean curd tonight?
The water spinach at the market is all sold out.
Related words
Common phrases
stir-fried water spinach with fermented bean curd
Common mistake
Learners should be aware that while 蕹菜 is correct in writing, it is rarely spoken; using 通菜 will make your Cantonese sound much more natural and authentic.
Grammar color guide
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Grammar guides
- TonesCantonese has six tones, and the tones can change in certain grammatical contexts. Learn the six tones and the rules for tone change.
- Time and datesClock time, days of the week, months, and years. The patterns you need to make plans and talk about when things happen.
- Modal verbsHow to say can, will, may, should, must, and want. The core modal verbs of Cantonese and the differences that trip up beginners.
