waat6 ngau4滑牛

Jyutpingwaat6 ngau4

Yalewaaht ngàuh

Definition

Tender sliced beef, commonly stir-fried and served in Hong Kong style diners.

colloquialfooddim sum

How it's used

Refers specifically to beef that has been marinated with cornstarch or baking soda to achieve a signature velvety, slippery texture. It is a staple ingredient in Cantonese stir-fries and noodle dishes, particularly in casual eateries. You will rarely hear this term used for high-end steak or raw beef cuts, as it implies a specific preparation method rather than just the quality of the meat.

Measure word

dip2碟díp

Examples

ngo5我gam1今jat6日soeng2想sik6食waat6滑ngau2牛caau2炒daan2蛋faan6飯。

I want to eat scrambled egg with tender beef rice today.

le1呢gaan1間caa4茶caan1餐teng1廳ge3嘅waat6滑ngau2牛hou2好gau3夠wok6鑊hei3氣。

The tender beef at this cha chaan teng has a great wok hei.

Common phrases

waat6滑ngau2牛caau2炒daan2蛋

tender beef with scrambled eggs

waat6滑ngau2牛zuk1粥

tender beef congee

Common mistake

Do not confuse this with raw beef, as the term specifically implies the meat has already been treated to be tender. Ordering it in a context where you expect plain, unmarinated beef will lead to confusion.