龍蝦 / 龙虾
The Cantonese word for lobster is 龍蝦 / 龙虾.
龍蝦 / 龙虾 is used to refer to the crustacean lobster.
Meaning: crustacean (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The term is a compound of 龍 (dragon) and 蝦 (shrimp/prawn).
Did you know?
- Cantonese distinguishes between the 龍蝦 (lobster) and the 三龍蝦 (crawfish), despite both being crustaceans often translated as 'lobster' in other languages.
- When ordering 龍蝦 in a traditional Cantonese seafood restaurant, it is common to specify if you want it 原隻, meaning the lobster is served whole and uncut.
- While 龍蝦 refers to the animal, Cantonese speakers often use the term 波士頓龍蝦 to specifically distinguish the American lobster from local varieties.
Examples in context
- 今晚聚餐吃龍蝦如何？How about eating lobster at the gathering tonight?
Sources
- Wiktionary, “lobster” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
