zyu1 tin1 tai1豬天梯猪天梯
Jyutpingzyu1 tin1 tai1
Yalejyū tīn tāi
Definition
Pig's maxilla (the upper jaw or palate of a pig) served as food.
colloquialfooddim sum
How it's used
The name literally translates to pig ladder, referring to the ridged appearance of the cartilage on the pig's upper palate. It is a prized ingredient in hot pot and stir fry dishes specifically for its unique, snappy, and crunchy texture rather than its flavor. It is considered a delicacy in Cantonese cuisine and is not commonly found in everyday home cooking.
Measure word
dip2碟dípExamples
You must order a plate of pig's maxilla when having hot pot.
Have you ever eaten pig's maxilla? The texture is very crunchy.
Common phrases
crunchy pig's maxilla
hot pot pig's maxilla
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with other pork cartilage cuts like 豬軟骨, which comes from the joints or ribs and has a softer, more gelatinous texture when braised.
Grammar color guide
Noun
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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).



