蓮藕
lin5 ngau5
The phrase for "lotus root" in Cantonese is 蓮藕 (lin5 ngau5).
The term refers to the edible rhizome of the lotus plant.
What does it mean word for word?
The word is composed of 蓮, meaning lotus and 藕, meaning lotus root.
How do you pronounce it?
lin5 ngau5
Did you know?
- In Cantonese culture, the word 藕 is used in the idiom 藕斷絲連, which describes a relationship that is broken but still has lingering emotional ties. This refers to the sticky threads that remain when you snap a piece of lotus root.
- While 蓮藕 is a staple in Cantonese cuisine, it is often paired with peanuts in a sweet dessert soup known as 蓮藕花生糖水. This combination is believed to have cooling properties for the body in traditional Chinese medicine.
- Because of the distinctive pattern of holes, a sliced piece of 蓮藕 is sometimes used as a natural stamp to create beautiful patterns on food or dough.
Examples in context
- 我鍾意食蓮藕湯I enjoy eating lotus root soup
- 我想買蓮藕。ngo5 soeng2 maai5 lin4 ngau2.I want to buy lotus root.
- 呢啲蓮藕好新鮮。ni1 di1 lin4 ngau2 hou2 san1 sin1.These lotus roots are very fresh.
- 蓮藕可以煲湯。lin4 ngau2 ho2 ji5 bou1 tong1.Lotus root can be used to make soup.
Example conversation
Two people are shopping for groceries at a market.
- 雅婷 Nga Ting俊傑，你想唔想買蓮藕？zeon3 git3, nei5 soeng2 m4 soeng2 maai5 lin4 ngau2?Chun Kit, do you want to buy some lotus root?
- 俊傑 Chun Kit好呀，我想用佢煲湯。hou2 aa3, ngo5 soeng2 jung6 keoi5 bou1 tong1.Yes, I want to use it to cook soup.
- 雅婷 Nga Ting呢啲蓮藕睇落好新鮮。nei1 di1 lin4 ngau2 tai2 lok6 hou2 san1 sin1.This lotus root looks very fresh.
- 俊傑 Chun Kit係呀，買兩截吧。hai6 aa3, maai5 loeng5 zit3 baa3.Yes, let's buy two pieces.
