wu1 laam5烏欖乌榄
Jyutpingwu1 laam5
Yalewū láahm
Definition
Black Chinese olive (Canarium pimela); a species of olive tree and its fruit.
colloquialfood
How it's used
Often associated with traditional Cantonese cuisine, these are frequently preserved or used in steamed dishes like steamed pork patties. Unlike the green olives commonly found in Western salads, these are typically dark purple or black when ripe and have a distinct, rich flavor profile. They are a staple ingredient in many home-style dishes rather than eaten raw as a snack.
Measure word
nap1粒nāpExamples
Related words
Common mistake
Do not confuse these with the green olives used in Mediterranean cooking, as the flavor and culinary application are completely different.
Grammar color guide
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Grammar guides
- In 30 secondsThe whole language at a glance. No tenses, no plurals, six tones, sentence particles. Read this before you dive into any specific topic.
- ParticlesSentence particles add tone, emotion, and nuance. Learn the most common particles in Cantonese and how to use them.
- Possession (嘅)How to say my, your, and his, and how to link a describing word to a noun, all with the little word 嘅 (ge3).
