wan6 nei1 naa2雲呢拿云呢拿
Jyutpingwan6 nei1 naa2
Yalewahn nēi ná
Definition
Vanilla; a common spice and flavoring used in desserts like ice cream and cake.
colloquialfood
How it's used
Borrowed directly from the English word, this term is the standard way to refer to the flavor in Hong Kong. While 香草 is also used, it can sometimes be ambiguous as it may refer to herbs in a culinary context. Using this loanword ensures you are specifically talking about the sweet, aromatic ingredient found in desserts.
Examples
Related words
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with the general term 香草 which can refer to savory herbs like basil or rosemary in a cooking context. If you are at a bakery or ice cream shop, always use this specific term to avoid confusion.
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.
