Cooking & Markets

1. 點樣整叉燒？

   dim2 joeng2 zing2 caa1 siu1?

   How do you make char siu (BBQ pork)?

   Usage

   Char siu is a Cantonese staple — marinated pork roasted with honey and soy sauce

   Grammar Note

   "整" is Cantonese for "make/cook", equivalent to Mandarin "做"

2. 呢度有冇賣魚蛋？

   ni1 dou6 jau5 mou5 maai6 jyu4 daan2?

   Do they sell fish balls here?

   Usage

   Fish balls are one of Hong Kong's most iconic street foods

   Grammar Note

   "有冇賣〜" asks "do they sell [item]?" — a standard market/shop question

3. 煮飯要用幾多水？

   zyu2 faan6 jiu3 jung6 gei2 do1 seoi2?

   How much water do you need to cook rice?

   Usage

   A practical phrase for asking about rice-cooking ratios

   Grammar Note

   "幾多" asks about quantity. "要用" means "need to use [amount]"

4. 我想學整煲仔飯。

   ngo5 soeng2 hok6 zing2 bou1 zai2 faan6.

   I'd like to learn how to make clay pot rice.

   Usage

   Clay pot rice is a Hong Kong winter staple — rice with toppings cooked in an earthen pot

   Grammar Note

   "學整〜" = "learn to make [dish]". "煲仔" is a small clay pot

5. 請問超市賣唔賣蠔油？

   cing2 man6 ciu1 si5 maai6 m4 maai6 hou4 jau4?

   Excuse me, does the supermarket sell oyster sauce?

   Usage

   Oyster sauce is a quintessential Cantonese condiment used in countless dishes

   Grammar Note

   "賣唔賣" is A-not-A for "sell". "超市" is short for "超級市場"

6. 呢個菜要炒幾耐？

   ni1 go3 coi3 jiu3 caau2 gei2 noi6?

   How long do you stir-fry this vegetable?

   Usage

   Asking about stir-fry cooking time for a vegetable

   Grammar Note

   "炒" (stir-fry) is a core Cantonese cooking technique using high heat

7. 我想整豆腐花，要用幾多石膏粉？

   ngo5 soeng2 zing2 dau6 fu6 faa1, jiu3 jung6 gei2 do1 sek6 gou1 fan2?

   I want to make tofu pudding — how much gypsum powder is needed?

   Usage

   Tofu pudding is a popular HK dessert; gypsum powder (calcium sulfate) sets the soy milk

   Grammar Note

   "要用幾多〜" = "how much [ingredient] is needed?" — an ingredient quantity question

8. 點解要用大火炒？

   dim2 gaai2 jiu3 jung6 daai6 fo2 caau2?

   Why do you need to stir-fry on high heat?

   Usage

   Asking about the reasoning behind a cooking technique

   Grammar Note

   "點解" is Cantonese for "why". "大火" literally "big fire" means high heat

9. 廚房入面有乜調味料？

   cyu4 fong2 jap6 min6 jau5 mat1 diu6 mei6 liu2?

   What seasonings are in the kitchen?

   Usage

   Checking what seasonings are available before cooking

   Grammar Note

   "入面" means "inside" in Cantonese. "廚房入面" = "inside the kitchen"

10. 呢個湯要煲幾耐先好飲？

    ni1 go3 tong1 jiu3 bou1 gei2 noi6 sin1 hou2 jam2?

    How long does this soup need to simmer before it's ready to drink?

    Usage

    Cantonese soups are traditionally simmered for hours — asking about cooking duration

    Grammar Note

    "先" in Cantonese expresses "only then" — "煲完先好飲" = "only good after simmering"

11. 豆腐

    dau6 fu6

    Tofu

    Usage

    Point at it to order or buy at a market or eatery

12. 湯

    tong1

    Soup

    Usage

    Also the word in HK set-meal "lai6 tong1"; it means soup, not hot water

13. 生果

    saang1 gwo2

    Fruit

    Usage

    HK says "saang1 gwo2", not the Mandarin "shuǐguǒ"; a fruit stall is a "saang1 gwo2 dong3"

14. 蒜頭

    syun3 tau4

    Garlic

    Usage

    Pair it with "m4 jiu3" to ask for a dish without garlic

15. 洋蔥

    joeng4 cung1

    Onion

    Usage

    Point at it to have onion left out

16. 辣椒

    laat6 ziu1

    Chili

    Usage

    Point at it to add or leave out chili

17. 芫茜

    jyun4 sai1

    Coriander / cilantro

    Usage

    HK writes "jyun4 sai1", not the Mandarin "xiāngcài"; say "m4 jiu3 jyun4 sai1" to leave it out

18. 薑

    goeng1

    Ginger

    Usage

    Used heavily in HK cooking; point at it to have it left out

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