Latest / Learn Cantonese with Fexingo / Cantonese Kitchen: Knife Pot Wok Basics
Transcript
- Lucas: Hi there. Welcome back to another small step with Fexingo. We are Episode 266. Last week we talked about peelers and graters. Today, we go deeper into the main tools. Luna: Yeah. I feel like I’m always looking for something in my drawer. Knives, pots... it’s all just metal. Let’s make it clear today. Lucas: Exactly. Three words. Just three. And we will repeat them until they stick. First, the most important tool. The knife. In Cantonese, we say '厨房刀'. Listen closely. Luna: Okay. '厨房刀'. Is that pronounced like 'chuhng fow doh'? Lucas: Very close. It is '厨房刀'. Say it with me. '厨房刀'. Luna: '厨房刀'. That sounds sharp. Like a real kitchen knife. Lucas: It is. '厨房刀'. Now, let’s break it down slightly. '厨房' means kitchen. '刀' means knife. Put them together. '厨房刀'. Luna: '厨房刀'. Okay. Kitchen knife. Got it. That was easier than I thought. Lucas: Right. So if you need to chop vegetables, you reach for the '厨房刀'. Try saying the whole phrase again. '厨房刀'. Luna: '厨房刀'. Yeah. I can see myself holding it now. Chopping carrots. '厨房刀'. Lucas: Good. You nailed it. There it is. '厨房刀'. Let’s move to the second tool. This one is big and round. The pot. In Cantonese, we say '锅'. Luna: '锅'? Just one character? That seems short. Lucas: It is short. '锅'. It sounds like 'gwah'. Listen to how smooth it is. '锅'. Luna: '锅'. Gwah. Okay. Like a heavy pot. '锅'. Lucas: Yes. '锅'. You use it for boiling soup or stewing meat. If you want to boil noodles, you use a '锅'. Repeat after me. '锅'. Luna: '锅'. Boiling soup. Stewing meat. '锅'. It feels solid. Lucas: Exactly. Solid and useful. '锅'. Now, here is the third word. This is very specific to Chinese cooking. The wok. In Cantonese, it is also written as '锅', but we often use a different term for the pan itself when frying. Actually, let's keep it simple. The general word for a cooking vessel is '锅'. But for the special curved pan, we say '镬'. Luna: Oh, wait. Earlier episodes mentioned '镬'. Is that the same as '锅'? Lucas: They are similar, but '镬' is distinctively the wok. The heavy, black, carbon steel pan. It is '镬'. Listen to the tone. It goes down. '镬'. Luna: '镬'. Hwoh? Like a low growl? '镬'. Lucas: Perfect. '镬'. When you stir-fry, you use the '镬'. The heat needs to be high. You toss the food in the '镬'. Say it again. '镬'. Luna: '镬'. Tossing vegetables. High heat. '镬'. I love the sound of it. Lucas: It does. It’s a strong word. '镬'. So, let’s review our three tools. One, the knife. '厨房刀'. Two, the pot. '锅'. Three, the wok. '镬'. Luna: '厨房刀', '锅', '镬'. It’s a nice set. Sharp, heavy, hot. Lucas: Sharp, heavy, hot. Exactly. Let’s put them in a scene. Imagine you are making dinner. You take out the '厨房刀'. Then you get the '锅' ready. Luna: And then you heat up the '镬'. Right. '厨房刀'. '锅'. '镬'. Lucas: Yes. '厨房刀'. Chop the onions. '锅'. Fill it with water. '镬'. Heat it up for the stir-fry. Luna: '厨房刀'. '锅'. '镬'. It flows so well. I don't think I'll forget these. Lucas: I bet you won't. Repetition helps. Let’s say '厨房刀' one more time. Slowly. '厨房刀'. Luna: '厨房刀'. Cutting board nearby. '厨房刀'. Lucas: And '锅'. Slowly. '锅'. Luna: '锅'. Simmering soup. '锅'. Lucas: And '镬'. Slowly. '镬'. Luna: '镬'. Sizzling oil. '镬'. Oh, I can almost smell it. Lucas: That’s the spirit. '厨房刀', '锅', '镬'. Three words. Infinite cooking possibilities. Luna: Infinite cooking possibilities. I’m hungry now. Thanks, Lucas. Lucas: Anytime. Before we go, I want to share something honest with you. A lot of people ask how we keep making these episodes every single week without ads. Luna: Right. Because I noticed there are no interruptions. No commercials breaking up the flow. Lucas: Exactly. It’s just us talking. And the truth is, a small group of listeners supports us directly. They help fund the recording and editing through buy me a coffee dot com slash fexingo. It keeps the show clean and ad-free. Luna: Yeah. It really makes a difference. If you enjoy hearing us practice these words, consider checking that link. Even a small amount helps us keep going. Lucas: We appreciate it. Now, back to our words. Let’s do a final rapid fire. '厨房刀'. Luna: '厨房刀'. '锅'. Lucas: '锅'. '镬'. Luna: '镬'. Perfect. See you next time.