番荔枝
faan1 lai6 zi1
The English phrase "custard apple" is translated into Cantonese as 番荔枝 (faan1 lai6 zi1).
番荔枝 refers to any of several tropical fruits within the genus Annona.
Meaning: any of several tropical fruits in the genus Annona (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The term 番荔枝 is composed of 番 meaning foreign, 荔 meaning lychee and 枝 meaning branch or fruit, literally translating to "foreign lychee".
Which one should you use?
糯米梨 is an informal way to refer to the fruit.
How do you pronounce it?
faan1 lai6 zi1
Did you know?
- The character 番 in 番荔枝 was historically used to describe people or things from the West or Southeast Asia and often carried a derogatory meaning of 'barbarian'.
- While 番荔枝 is the standard name, the informal term 糯米梨 literally means 'glutinous rice pear', describing the fruit's creamy texture and grainy appearance.
- Cantonese uses the same 'foreign' prefix found in 番荔枝 for other common vegetables, such as 番茄 for tomato and 番薯 for sweet potato.
Examples in context
- 呢個番荔枝好甜。ni1 go3 faan1 lai6 zi1 hou2 tim4.This custard apple is very sweet.
- 我想買啲番荔枝。ngo5 soeng2 maai5 di1 faan1 lai6 zi1.I want to buy some custard apples.
- 番荔枝喺超市賣。faan1 lai6 zi1 hai2 caau1 si6 maai6.Custard apples are sold in the supermarket.
Example conversation
Two friends are shopping at a fruit market.
- 子健 Tsz Kin嘉欣，你想唔想試下番荔枝？gaa1 han1, nei5 soeng2 m4 soeng2 si3 haa5 faan1 lai6 zi1?Ka Han, do you want to try some custard apple?
- 嘉欣 Ka Yan我未試過，係咩味道？ngo5 mei6 si3 gwo3, hai6 me1 mei6 dou6?I've never tried it, what does it taste like?
- 子健 Tsz Kin番荔枝味道好似雪糕咁。faan1 lai6 zi1 mei6 dou6 hou2 ci5 syut3 gou1 gam2.Custard apple tastes like ice cream.
- 嘉欣 Ka Yan咁我想買一個試下。gam2 ngo5 soeng2 maai5 jat1 go3 si3 haa5.In that case, I want to buy one to try.
