牛肚
Tripe in Cantonese is 牛肚.
The term refers to the stomach lining of an animal used as food. For example, you might use it in the phrase 牛肚火鍋 (beef tripe hot pot) or 薑蔥燜牛肚 (braised tripe with ginger and scallions).
Meaning: stomach lining of animal for food (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The term 牛肚 is composed of 牛 (cow) and 肚 (belly/stomach).
Did you know?
- The character 肚 can also be used metaphorically in Cantonese to describe someone's 'stomach' for certain things, such as 'having a big stomach' to endure hardship or insults.
- In Cantonese food culture, the texture 'crunchy' or 'springy' (often described as 爽 'soeng') is a highly prized quality for 牛肚, whereas English speakers might find such a texture unusual for meat.
- Traditional Cantonese tripe preparation involves a rigorous cleaning process using flour and salt to remove the 'gamey' scent before cooking.
Examples in context
- 揾間餐廳食牛肚火鍋啦。Let's find a restaurant to have beef tripe hot pot.
- 我想食牛肚。ngo5 soeng2 sik6 ngau4 deoi6.I want to eat tripe.
- 呢碗牛肚好大塊。ni1 wun2 ngau4 deoi6 hou2 daai6 faai3.This bowl of tripe has big pieces.
- 今日嘅牛肚好爽口。gam1 jat6 ge3 ngau4 deoi6 hou2 song1 hau2.Today's tripe is very crunchy and refreshing.
Example conversation
A man and a woman are ordering food at a Cantonese restaurant.
- 美玲 Mei Ling家明，你想食咩？gaa1 ming4, nei5 soeng2 sik6 me1?Ka Ming, what do you want to eat?
- 家明 Ka Ming我想叫一份牛肚。ngo5 soeng2 giu3 jat1 fan6 ngau4 deoi6.I want to order a portion of tripe.
- 美玲 Mei Ling好呀，牛肚好食。hou2 aa3, ngau4 deoi6 hou2 sik6.Okay, tripe is delicious.
- 家明 Ka Ming係呀，我好鍾意食。hai6 aa3, ngo5 hou2 zung1 ji3 sik6.Yes, I really like eating it.
