爆谷
baak3 guk1
The Cantonese word for popcorn is 爆谷 (baak3 guk1).
爆谷 is used to refer to the snack food made from corn kernels that have been popped by dry heating.
Meaning: a snack food made from corn kernels popped by dry heating (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The term is composed of the verb 爆, meaning 'to explode' or 'to pop' and the noun 谷, which is a colloquial term for 'grain' or 'corn'.
Which one should you use?
爆米花 is another term used for popcorn.
How do you pronounce it?
baak3 guk1
Did you know?
- The word 米 in the alternative term 爆米花 actually refers to 'rice', even though the snack is made from corn.
- Traditional Cantonese street vendors used to make 'popped grain' using sand and a large iron wok, a method that differs from the microwave bags common today.
- The character 爆 is often used in Cantonese slang to describe someone who 'blows up' or loses their temper unexpectedly.
Examples in context
- 我買咗呢部超快速爆谷機俾自己做聖誕禮物。I bought myself this superfast popcorn machine as a Christmas present.This sentence shows how to use 爆谷 when discussing a popcorn machine.Tatoeba #530728 by nickyeow, translation #530574 by wma
- 一份爆谷，配電影好正!A serving of popcorn, perfect for watching movies!
- 我鍾意食甜味嘅爆谷。ngo5 zung1 ji5 sik6 tim4 mei6 ge3 baau3 guk1.I like eating sweet popcorn.
- 呢袋爆谷好大份。ni1 doi6 baau3 guk1 hou2 daai6 fan6.This bag of popcorn is very large.
Example conversation
At a movie theater, Mei Ling and Ka Ming are choosing snacks.
- 美玲 Mei Ling家明，你想要食爆谷嗎？kaai1 ming4, nei5 soeng2 jiu3 sik6 baau3 guk1 maa1?Ka Ming, do you want to eat popcorn?
- 家明 Ka Ming我想食，唔該晒。ngo5 soeng2 sik6, m4 goi1 saai3.I want to eat some, thank you.
- 美玲 Mei Ling你要甜味定鹹味？nei5 jiu3 tim4 mei6 ding6 haam4 mei6?Do you want sweet or salty?
- 家明 Ka Ming甜味嘅啦。tim4 mei6 ge3 laa1.The sweet one, please.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
