排骨
The Cantonese phrase for spareribs is 排骨.
In Cantonese cuisine, 排骨 is a generic term that can refer to various types of pork ribs used in different cooking methods, such as steaming or frying.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Southern China, particularly in Guangdong province, the term siu paai gwut (燒排骨) means 'barbecue ribs'.
Did you know?
- In Cantonese, 排骨 refers not only to pork but can also describe the skeletal structure of other animals or even a human's very thin frame. Using it to describe a person implies they are so skinny their ribs are visible.
- The word 骨 meaning 'bone' is used in various Cantonese idioms to describe stubbornness or a 'hard' personality, linking the physical nature of 排骨 to human character.
- The character 排 in 排骨 means 'to line up' or 'to arrange', which refers to how the bones are arranged in a row.
Examples in context
- 呢道排骨好香。ni1 dou6 paai4 gwat1 hou2 hoeng1.This spareribs dish smells delicious.
- 佢煮咗排骨畀我。keoi5 zyu2 zo2 paai4 gwat1 bei2 ngo5.He cooked spareribs for me.
Example conversation
A couple is deciding what to order for dinner.
- 雅婷 Nga Ting子健，你想食乜嘢？zi2 gin3, nei5 soeng2 sik6 mat1 je5?Zi Gin, what do you want to eat?
- 子健 Tsz Kin我想食排骨。ngo5 soeng2 sik6 paai4 gwat1.I want to eat spareribs.
- 雅婷 Nga Ting好呀，我哋叫排骨蒸飯。hou2 aa3, ngo5 dei6 giu3 paai4 gwat1 zing1 faan6.Okay, let's order steamed spareribs with rice.
- 子健 Tsz Kin好，我都鍾意食排骨。hou2, ngo5 dou1 zung1 ji3 sik6 paai4 gwat1.Great, I love eating spareribs too.
