秋葵
cau¹ kwai⁴
The English word okra is translated into Cantonese as 秋葵 (cau¹ kwai⁴).
Meaning: edible capsules of A. esculentus (noun)
Which one should you use?
秋葵 is the formal term, while 羊角豆 is the colloquial term. The latter, 羊角豆, literally translates to "goat horn beans" because of the vegetable's shape.
How do you pronounce it?
cau¹ kwai⁴
Did you know?
- In some traditional Cantonese beliefs, the 'sliminess' of 秋葵 is viewed as a beneficial quality for digestion and lubricating the intestines.
- In Hong Kong markets, using the colloquial 羊角豆 can signal to a vendor that you are a local or a long-term resident rather than a tourist using a textbook.
- The character 葵 in 秋葵 is also found in the word for 'sunflower', linking the vegetable to a family of flowering plants.
Examples in context
- 我想買啲秋葵。ngo5 soeng2 maai5 di1 cau1 kwai4.I want to buy some okra.
- 呢啲秋葵好新鮮。ni1 di1 cau1 kwai4 hou2 san1 sin6.This okra is very fresh.
- 你鍾唔鍾意食秋葵？nei5 zung1 m4 zung1 ji3 sik6 cau1 kwai4?Do you like eating okra?
Example conversation
At a grocery store while shopping for dinner ingredients.
- 曉彤 Hiu Tung家明，你要買秋葵嗎？kaa1 ming4, nei5 jiu3 maai5 cau1 kwai4 maa1?Ka Ming, do you want to buy okra?
- 家明 Ka Ming好呀，我今日想食。hou2 aa3, ngo5 gam1 jat6 soeng2 sik6.Yes, I want to eat it today.
- 曉彤 Hiu Tung呢啲秋葵睇落好靚。ni1 di1 cau1 kwai4 tai2 lok6 hou2 leng3.This okra looks very nice.
- 家明 Ka Ming噉就買呢啲啦。gam2 zau6 maai5 ni1 di1 laa1.Then let's buy these.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “okra” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
