豬肝
zyu1 gon1
The Cantonese word for liver is 豬肝 (zyu1 gon1).
The term 豬肝 is used in a culinary context to refer to pig liver as an ingredient.
Meaning: organ of the body (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The term 豬肝 literally means 'pig liver'.
Which one should you use?
While 豬肝 refers specifically to pig liver (often used in cooking), the single character 肝 refers to the biological organ in general.
How do you pronounce it?
zyu1 gon1
Did you know?
- In Cantonese, the word 肝 is used in the phrase 肝膽相照, which describes two people who are so close they share their 'liver and gallbladder' to show total sincerity.
- The character 肝 is a phono-semantic compound where the left side 月 actually represents 'flesh' or 'body', not the moon.
- In Traditional Chinese Medicine, the 肝 is believed to be the organ associated with the emotion of anger.
Examples in context
- 呢碗豬肝湯好飲。ni1 wun2 zyu1 gon1 tong1 hou2 jam2.This bowl of pork liver soup is delicious.
- 我唔鍾意食豬肝。ngo5 m4 zung1 ji3 sik6 zyu1 gon1.I don't like eating pork liver.
- 超市有賣豬肝。caau1 si5 jau5 maai6 zyu1 gon1.The supermarket sells pork liver.
Example conversation
A couple is deciding what to eat for dinner at a local restaurant.
- 俊傑 Chun Kit曉彤，你想食乜嘢？hiu2 tung4, nei5 soeng2 sik6 mat1 je5?Hiu Tung, what do you want to eat?
- 曉彤 Hiu Tung我想食豬肝炒蛋。ngo5 soeng2 sik6 zyu1 gon1 caau2 daan2.I want to eat stir-fried pork liver with eggs.
- 俊傑 Chun Kit好啊，我哋去叫啦。hou2 aa3, ngo5 dei6 heoi3 giu3 laa1.Okay, let's go order it.
- 曉彤 Hiu Tung俊傑，你都鍾意食㗎？zeon3 kit6, nei5 dou1 zung1 ji3 sik6 gaa3?Chun Kit, do you like eating it too?
