排骨
paai4 gwat1
排骨 (paai4 gwat1) is the Cantonese phrase for pork ribs.
The term 排骨 translates to ribs. While the word for ribs can apply to many animals, in a Cantonese culinary context, 排骨 almost always refers specifically to pork ribs unless another type of meat is specified. You will often see this used in restaurant dishes, such as 豉汁排骨 (pork ribs with black bean sauce).
What does it mean word for word?
排骨 is composed of 排 (paai4), meaning 'row' or 'line' and 骨 (gwat1), meaning 'bone'.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In some areas, 蜜汁骨 is used to mean honey-glazed ribs.
How do you pronounce it?
paai4 gwat1
Did you know?
- In Cantonese slang, the word 排骨 (ribs) is sometimes used to describe a person who is very skinny or skeletal.
- The character 骨 (bone) is used in Cantonese to describe someone's 'inner nature' or 'true character' through phrases like 骨氣, meaning 'moral courage'.
- The term 排 (row) in 排骨 is the same character used in the Cantonese word for 'queueing' or 'lining up' in a row.
Examples in context
- 我想買排骨。ngo5 soeng2 maai5 paai4 gwat1.I want to buy pork ribs.
- 呢啲排骨好新鮮。ni1 di1 paai4 gwat1 hou2 san1 sin1.These pork ribs are very fresh.
Example conversation
At a dinner table.
- 志強 Chi Keung嘉欣，你鍾意食排骨嗎？ga1 han1, nei5 zung1 ji3 sik1 paai4 gwat1 maa1?Ka Hin, do you like eating pork ribs?
- 嘉欣 Ka Yan我好鍾意食，好正！ngo5 hou2 zung1 ji3 sik1, hou2 zeng3!I love them, they are great!
- 志強 Chi Keung咁我幫你夾多兩塊排骨。gam2 ngo5 bong1 nei5 gaap3 do1 loeng5 faai3 paai4 gwat1.Then I will help you get two more pieces of pork ribs.
- 嘉欣 Ka Yan多謝你，志強。do1 ze6 nei5, zi3 keong4.Thank you, Zhi Qiang.
