春卷
ceon1 gyun2
The Cantonese phrase for "egg roll" is 春卷 (ceon1 gyun2).
春卷 refers to a food made by wrapping a combination of ingredients.
Meaning: a food made by wrapping a combination of ingredients (noun)
Which one should you use?
While English speakers often call this an "egg roll", the Cantonese term 春卷 refers more broadly to the "spring roll" category.
How do you pronounce it?
ceon1 gyun2
Did you know?
- In Cantonese culture, the gold-brown color of a fried 春卷 is meant to symbolize gold bars, representing wealth and prosperity for the coming year.
- The word 卷 means 'roll' or 'scroll', the same character used for an ancient book or a formal government document.
- While 春卷 is the general term, a Cantonese speaker might use the word 蛋卷 specifically for a sweet, crisp egg wafer roll, which is completely different from a savory egg roll.
Examples in context
- 俾我個鴨蛋卷。Give me a duck egg roll.
- 我想食春卷。ngo5 soeng2 sik6 ceon1 gyun2.I want to eat egg rolls.
- 呢啲春卷好脆。ni1 di1 ceon1 gyun2 hou2 ceoi3.These egg rolls are very crispy.
- 你買咗春卷未？nei5 maai5 zo2 ceon1 gyun2 mei6?Have you bought egg rolls yet?
Example conversation
Two friends are looking at a menu at a restaurant.
- 俊傑 Chun Kit嘉欣，我哋嗌春卷好唔好？ga1 han1, ngo5 dei6 ai3 ceon1 gyun2 hou2 m4 hou2?Ka Hin, shall we order egg rolls?
- 嘉欣 Ka Yan好啊，我好鍾意食春卷。hou2 aa3, ngo5 hou2 zung1 ji3 sik6 ceon1 gyun2.Sure, I love eating egg rolls.
- 俊傑 Chun Kit呢度嘅春卷好出名。ni1 dou6 ge3 ceon1 gyun2 hou2 ceot1 ming4.The egg rolls here are very famous.
- 嘉欣 Ka Yan咁就嗌一份啦。gam3 zau6 ai3 jat1 fan6 laa1.Then let's order one portion.
