Latest / Learn Cantonese with Fexingo / Cantonese Kitchen: Knife Pot Wok
Transcript
- Lucas: Welcome back to Learn Cantonese with Fexingo. I am Lucas. Luna: And I am Luna. It is good to be here again. Lucas: We are picking up where we left off in the kitchen. Last episode we talked about boiling and steaming. Luna: Yes. We used boiling water and steam. But we did not talk about the tools themselves. Lucas: Exactly. So today, we look at three essential items. The knife, the pot, and the wok. Luna: I love cooking tools. Especially when they are sharp or hot. Lucas: Let us start with the most important one. The knife. In Cantonese, it is simply 'doh'. Luna: 'Doh'. Okay. That sounds short and sharp. Lucas: It is. Listen to how I say it. Doh.... Doh. Luna: Doh.... Doh. Got it. One syllable. Lucas: Perfect. Now, let us put it in a sentence. 'This knife is sharp.' In Cantonese, we say 'neih doh hou leng'. Luna: Neih doh hou leng. This knife is sharp. I like that. Lucas: Let me say it slowly. Neih doh hou leng.... Neih doh hou leng. Luna: Neih doh hou leng.... Neih doh hou leng. Yeah. Lucas: Now, if you want to ask where the knife is. You can say 'doh hai bin de?'. Luna: Doh hai bin de? Where is the knife? Oh, that is useful. Lucas: Very useful. If you are cutting vegetables, you need to know where your tool is. Luna: Right. Safety first. Okay, next item. The pot. Lucas: The general word for a cooking pot or vessel is 'gwlo'. Luna: Gwlo. Like 'gloo'? No, more like 'gw-lo'. Lucas: Exactly. Listen. Gwlo.... Gwlo. Luna: Gwlo.... Gwlo. Okay. A big pot for soup? Lucas: Yes. 'Siu tang gwlo'. Soup pot. Let me repeat. Gwlo.... Gwlo. Luna: Gwlo.... Gwlo. I can imagine a large ceramic pot. Lucas: Now, the star of Cantonese cooking. The wok. The word is 'wok'. Luna: Wait. It is just 'wok'? In English too? Lucas: In Cantonese, it is also 'wok'. Or sometimes 'haak'. But 'wok' is very common in speech too. Luna: Oh, really? So I can just say 'wok'? Lucas: Yes. And it carries that heat. 'Wok hei'. The breath of the wok. Luna: Ooh. I love that phrase. Wok hei. It means high heat cooking. Lucas: Correct. Let me say it. Wok.... Wok. Haak.... Haak. Luna: Wok.... Wok. Haak.... Haak. Two words for the same thing. Lucas: Yes. 'Haak' is the traditional term. 'Wok' is often used in loan contexts. Both work. Luna: Okay. So 'neih gwlo hou daai'. This pot is big. Lucas: Yes. 'Daai' is big. Neih gwlo hou daai. Repeat after me. Luna: Neih gwlo hou daai.... Neih gwlo hou daai. Got it. Lucas: Good. Now let us try a scene. You are making dinner. Luna: Okay. I need the knife. 'Bing doh'. Lucas: Bing doh. Get the knife. Then you use the wok. 'Yung haak'. Luna: Yung haak. Use the wok. For stir fry. 'Faai caau'. Lucas: Faai caau. Stir fry. Excellent. You are getting the hang of this. Luna: It feels easy when you break it down. Just three words. Lucas: Three words, but they open up the whole kitchen. Do not forget to support the show. Luna: If you enjoy learning these cooking terms, consider supporting us on buy me a coffee dot com slash fexingo. Lucas: Your support keeps the episodes coming. Ad-free and steady. Luna: Thanks for listening. Back to the wok. Lucas: Let us review the knife again. Doh.... Doh. Luna: Doh.... Doh. Sharp and simple. Lucas: And the pot. Gwlo.... Gwlo. Luna: Gwlo.... Gwlo. Big and sturdy. Lucas: And the wok. Wok.... Wok. Haak.... Haak. Luna: Wok.... Wok. Haak.... Haak. High heat magic. Lucas: Practice saying them together. Doh. Gwlo. Wok. Luna: Doh. Gwlo. Wok. Doh. Gwlo. Wok. Lucas: Imagine chopping vegetables with 'doh'. Boiling soup in 'gwlo'. Stir frying in 'wok'. Luna: That is a complete meal. I am hungry now. Lucas: Me too. But we have learned enough for today. Luna: Thanks, Lucas. Good lesson. Lucas: You are welcome. Keep practicing till we chat again.