How to Say "Corn" in Cantonese

粟米

The English word corn is translated into Cantonese as 粟米.

粟米 is the standard term used for corn (maize).

What does it mean word for word?

The term 粟米 is composed of two characters that literally translate to 'millet' and 'rice'.

While 粟米 is the common term for corn, the character 粟 can also refer to millet in other contexts.

In some old Cantonese culinary texts, corn is referred to as 番玉米. The prefix 番 was historically used to denote things that came from 'barbarians' or foreign lands, marking corn as an imported crop from the Americas.
In some older Cantonese contexts, the word 粟 was used as a counter for very small amounts, similar to how English uses 'grains'.
The first character in 粟米, 粟, is a generic term for any small grain or millet in classical Chinese.

當佢哋講完呢啲嘢之後，佢哋倒咗佢哋嘅粟米，每個人都發現佢嘅錢綁喺佢個袋口。佢哋嘅父親雅各好驚訝，佢哋嘅父親雅各話：你令我冇仔女；約瑟唔喺度，西門被綁住，你要帶走便雅憫：所有呢啲惡事都落喺我身上。
When they had told this, they poured out their corn, and every man found his money tied in the mouth of his sack: and all being astonished together, their father Jacob said: You have made me to be without children: Joseph is not living, Simeon is kept in bonds, and Benjamin you will take away: all these evils are fallen upon me.
This sentence illustrates the use of 粟米 in a context involving sacks of grain.
Tatoeba #13497046 by Davidgo5867, translation #7888785 by carlosalberto
粟米係好多文化嘅主食。 (zuk1 mai5 hai6 hou2 do1 man4 faa3 ge3 zyu2 sik6.)
Corn is a staple food in many cultures.
3 more sentences on Tatoeba

Two friends are choosing snacks at a grocery store.

家明 Ka Ming

你想食粟米定係薯條？
nei5 soeng2 sik6 suk1 mai6 ding6 hai6 syu4 tiu4?
Do you want to eat corn or french fries?
嘉欣 Ka Yan

我鍾意食粟米。
ngo5 zung1 ji3 sik6 suk1 mai6.
I like eating corn.
家明 Ka Ming

咁我買返一包粟米畀你啦。
gam2 ngo5 maai5 faan1 jat1 baau1 suk1 mai6 bei2 nei5 laa1.
Then I will buy a bag of corn for you.
嘉欣 Ka Yan

好呀，唔該晒你。
hou2 aa3, m4 goi1 saai3 nei5.
Okay, thank you very much.

Sources

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