花生
The Cantonese word for peanut is 花生. Wiktionary also lists 落花生 (lok⁶ faa¹ sang¹).
Meaning: a legume resembling a nut (noun)
Ways to say it
| Cantonese | Romanization (Wiktionary) |
|---|---|
| 花生 | |
| 落花生 | lok⁶ faa¹ sang¹ |
The term is used to refer to the legume that resembles a nut.
What does it mean word for word?
The word 花生 is a compound of 花 (flower) and 生 (to grow/born), literally meaning 'flower-born'.
Which one should you use?
花生 is the common, everyday term for peanut, whereas 落花生 is a more formal or botanical term used to refer to the peanut plant or the legume itself.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Hong Kong, the term 花生 is commonly used in both formal and informal contexts.
Did you know?
- In Cantonese slang, 'eating peanuts' (食花生) has nothing to do with food. It refers to being a bystander who enjoys watching other people's drama or gossip unfold.
- The formal term 落花生 specifically uses the character 落 (to fall), referring to the way the peanut flower stalks bend down to push the ovary into the soil.
- If you are 'adding peanuts' (加花生) to a conversation, you are not talking about legumes, but rather adding more juicy details to a piece of gossip.
Examples in context
- 我喜歡吃花生。I like eating peanuts.
- 我想食花生。ngo5 soeng2 sik6 faa1 sang1.I want to eat peanuts.
- 呢袋花生好貴。ni1 doi6 faa1 sang1 hou2 gwai3.This bag of peanuts is very expensive.
- 超市有賣花生。ciu1 si5 jau5 maai6 faa1 sang1.The supermarket sells peanuts.
Example conversation
Yating and Junjie are looking at a snack menu.
- 雅婷 Nga Ting俊傑，你想食花生定係杏仁？zeon3 git3, nei5 soeng2 sik6 faa1 sang1 ding6 si6 hang6 jan4?Junjie, do you want to eat peanuts or almonds?
- 俊傑 Chun Kit我比較鍾意食花生。ngo5 bei2 gaau3 zung1 ji3 sik6 faa1 sang1.I prefer eating peanuts.
- 雅婷 Nga Ting好嘅，咁我哋叫花生啦。hou2 ge3, gam2 ngo5 dei6 giu3 faa1 sang1 laa1.Okay, let's order peanuts then.
- 俊傑 Chun Kit唔該，我想要一份花生。m4 goi1, ngo5 soeng2 jiu3 jat1 fan6 faa1 sang1.Excuse me, I would like one serving of peanuts.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “peanut” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
