燕麥片
jin1 mak6 pin2
The Cantonese word for oatmeal is 燕麥片 (jin1 mak6 pin2).
燕麥片 refers to oatmeal, specifically the cereal made from oat flakes.
Meaning: breakfast cereal (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The term is composed of 燕麥 (oats) and 片 (flakes/slices).
Which one should you use?
While 燕麥片 refers specifically to the oat flakes, the general term for porridge or congee is 粥.
How do you pronounce it?
jin1 mak6 pin2
Did you know?
- In traditional Cantonese medicine, oats are often categorized as 'cool' foods, meaning they are suggested for people with 'heat' in their body.
- In Cantonese, the character 燕 in 燕麥片 means 'swallow' (the bird). Therefore, the literal name for oats is 'swallow grain flakes'.
- In Hong Kong, you can find 燕麥片 used as a thickening agent in savory Cantonese soups, a practice less common in Western oatmeal preparations.
Examples in context
- 我朝早食燕麥片。ngo5 ziu1 zou2 sik6 jin3 mak6 pin3.I eat oatmeal in the morning.
- 呢盒燕麥片好食。ni1 hap6 jin3 mak6 pin3 hou2 sik6.This box of oatmeal is delicious.
- 你想食燕麥片嗎？nei5 soeng2 sik6 jin3 mak6 pin3 maa1?Do you want to eat oatmeal?
Example conversation
Two friends are discussing breakfast options at home.
- 子健 Tsz Kin嘉欣，你想食燕麥片嗎？ga1 han1, nei5 soeng2 sik6 jin3 mak6 pin2 maa1?Ka Hin, do you want to eat oatmeal?
- 嘉欣 Ka Yan好啊，我想加啲水果。hou2 aa3, ngo5 soeng2 gaa1 di1 sui2 gwo2.Sure, I want to add some fruit.
- 子健 Tsz Kin等我幫你準備燕麥片。dang2 ngo5 bong1 nei5 zeon2 bei3 jin3 mak6 pin2.Let me help you prepare the oatmeal.
- 嘉欣 Ka Yan唔該晒你，子健。m4 goi1 saai3 nei5, zi2 gin6.Thank you so much, Zi Kin.
