鳳爪 / 凤爪
fung⁶ zaau²
The English phrase "chicken feet" can be translated into Cantonese as 鳳爪 / 凤爪 (fung⁶ zaau²) or 雞腳 / 鸡脚.
Meaning: feet of a chicken (noun)
Ways to say it
| Cantonese | Romanization (Wiktionary) |
|---|---|
| 鳳爪 / 凤爪 | fung⁶ zaau² |
| 雞腳 / 鸡脚 | gai¹ goek³ |
While both terms refer to the feet of a chicken, the choice depends on whether you are discussing food or the animal itself.
What does it mean word for word?
鳳爪 / 凤爪 literally translates to "phoenix claws", whereas 雞腳 / 鸡脚 translates to "chicken feet".
Which one should you use?
Use 鳳爪 / 凤爪 when referring to the dish in a culinary context, such as in Dim Sum, as it is a more elegant term. Use 雞腳 / 鸡脚 when referring to the anatomical parts of the animal in a literal or everyday sense.
How do you pronounce it?
fung⁶ zaau²
When do people say it?
In Cantonese Dim Sum culture, 鳳爪 is a standard dish, typically braised or steamed in black bean sauce.
Did you know?
- In Cantonese, the word 鳳 meaning 'phoenix' is frequently used as a culinary euphemism to make humble ingredients sound more noble or luxurious, turning a 'chicken' into a 'phoenix'.
- Cantonese culture views 鳳爪 not just as food but as a source of collagen, and they are often consumed specifically for the perceived health benefits for the skin and joints.
- Unlike in English where 'chicken feet' is a literal description, the Cantonese name 鳳爪 is part of a wider tradition of 'beautifying' names in Chinese cuisine to imply prosperity.
Example sentences for Cantonese are not verified yet.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “chicken feet” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
