棉花糖
The Cantonese phrase for cotton candy is 棉花糖.
棉花糖 refers to the spun sugar confectionery known as cotton candy. In many Cantonese contexts, this term is also used to refer to marshmallows.
Meaning: spun sugar confectionery (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The term is composed of three parts: 棉 (cotton), 花 (flower) and 糖 (sugar), which literally translates to "cotton flower sugar".
Did you know?
- In traditional Cantonese culture, the sweetness of 糖 is often associated with 'sweetness' in a relationship or a happy marriage, making these treats popular at festive celebrations.
- The phrase 棉花糖 follows a common Chinese linguistic pattern of using a natural object to describe a man-made texture.
- A person ordering 棉花糖 at a night market in Hong Kong is more likely to receive spun sugar than a marshmallow.
Examples in context
- 我買咗啲棉花糖畀阿湯。I bought some cotton candy for Tom.This sentence is useful for seeing how to use 棉花糖 when buying something for someone.Tatoeba #12077982 by thesilhouette, translation #2358632 by CK
- 呢個棉花糖好甜。ni1 go3 min6 faa1 tong2 hou2 tim4.This cotton candy is very sweet.
- 我想食粉紅色嘅棉花糖。ngo5 soeng2 sik6 fan2 hung4 sik1 ge3 min6 faa1 tong2.I want to eat pink cotton candy.
Example conversation
Two friends are visiting a carnival.
- 雅婷 Nga Ting子健，你想唔想食棉花糖？zi2 gin6, nei5 soeng2 m4 soeng2 sik6 min4 faa1 tong4?Zijian, do you want to eat some cotton candy?
- 子健 Tsz Kin好呀，我好耐冇食喇。hou2 aa3, ngo5 hou2 noi6 mou5 sik6 laa3.Yes, I haven't had any for a long time.
- 雅婷 Nga Ting等我幫你買一份。dang2 ngo5 bong1 nei5 maai5 jat1 fan6.Let me buy one for you.
- 子健 Tsz Kin多謝你，雅婷！do1 ze6 nei5, ngaa5 ting4!Thank you, Yating!
Sources
- Wiktionary, “cotton candy” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
