辣
laat6
The Cantonese word for spicy is 辣 (laat6).
辣 is used to describe food that provides a burning sensation due to chilies or other spices. If you want to specify a preference or a level of heat, you can use 少辣 to mean less spicy. To refer to the general habit or ability to eat spicy food, Cantonese speakers colloquially use the phrase 食辣.
Meaning: providing a burning sensation due to chilies and other spices (adj)
Which one should you use?
While 辣 is the standard adjective, you may encounter other variations. 辣味 is used specifically to denote a spicy taste, whereas 辣爆 is an informal way to say something is spicy hot. For extreme heat, the informal expression 辣死人 can be used, which translates to spicy enough to kill.
How does it change in a sentence?
To say that something is very spicy in a colloquial manner, place the adverb 好 before the adjective, resulting in 好辣.
How do you pronounce it?
laat6
Did you know?
- When discussing the 'spiciness' of a person's style, the word 辣 is used to mean 'sexy' or 'stunning'.
- The term 辣 is used colloquially to describe a person who is sharp-tongued, fierce, or aggressive in their personality.
- In Cantonese, the word 辣 can also be used to describe a sensation of stinging or burning on the skin, such as when an eye is irritated by soap or a wound is touched by alcohol.
Examples in context
- 韓國菜出名辣。Korean food is noted for its spicy flavor.This sentence describes a specific cuisine being noted for its spicy flavor using 辣.Tatoeba #427000 by nickyeow, translation #20813 by shekitten
- 我唔鍾意食辣。I don't like spicy food.This sentence expresses a dislike for eating spicy food using 辣.Tatoeba #5221138 by kaenif, translation #813306 by papabear
- 韓國菜一般都好辣。Korean food is generally very spicy.This sentence states that a type of food is generally very spicy using 辣.Tatoeba #762034 by nickyeow, translation #20812 by keaupuni
- 食嘢要辣啲 (sik je yiu laat di)The food should be spicy.
- 16 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Ka Yan and Chun Kit are ordering food at a restaurant.
- 嘉欣 Ka Yan呢個菜會唔會太辣？ni go coi wui m wui taai laat?Will this dish be too spicy?
- 俊傑 Chun Kit唔太辣，你可以試下。m taai laat, nei ho yi si ha.It's not too spicy, you can try it.
- 嘉欣 Ka Yan好，我想要辣少少。hou, ngo soeng jiu laat siu siu.Okay, I want it a little spicy.
- 俊傑 Chun Kit冇問題，我同個侍應講。mou man tai, ngo tung go si jing gong.No problem, I will tell the waiter.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
