Latest / Learn Cantonese with Fexingo / Cantonese Kitchen: Washing and Peeling Veggies
Transcript
- Lucas: Welcome back to Learn Cantonese with Fexingo. I'm Lucas. Luna: And I'm Luna. We're finally stepping out of the chopping zone and into the sink zone. Lucas: Exactly. Last episode we talked about knife safety. Now let's talk about what happens before you even pick up the knife. Luna: Right. The dirty work. The cleaning part. Lucas: The first step is always washing. In Cantonese, we say wash vegetables. Luna: Let me guess. It starts with the word for wash? Lucas: You know it. Wash is xi. Vegetables are cai. So, wash vegetables. Luna: Xi cai. Let me try. Xi cai. Lucas: Perfect. Just like that. Xi cai. Luna: Xi cai. That feels basic but essential. Lucas: It is. You can't cook clean food if you don't wash it first. Imagine making a salad without washing the lettuce. Yuck. Luna: Oh my gosh. No way. I would never do that. Lucas: Good. So, remember: Xi cai. Luna: Xi cai. Got it. Lucas: Now, sometimes the vegetable needs more than just water. Sometimes it needs its skin removed. Luna: Like potatoes? Or carrots? Lucas: Exactly. For that, we use the verb for peel. Peel is xiao. Luna: Xiao. And skin or peel is pi. So, peel skin. Lucas: Spot on. Xiao pi. Luna: Xiao pi. Let me say that again. Xiao pi. Lucas: Very good. Xiao pi. It’s a common action in Chinese kitchens. Luna: Xiao pi. I feel like I'm already holding a potato peeler. Lucas: That's the spirit. But be careful. If you rush, you might nick your finger. Luna: Oof. Definitely not. I'll take my time. Lucas: Smart choice. After you wash and peel, you need to make sure everything is clean. Luna: Clean? Is that gan jing? Lucas: Yes. Gan jing means clean or pure. Think of it as sparkling clean. Luna: Gan jing. Let me try. Gan jing. Lucas: Nice tone. Gan jing. Luna: Gan jing. I want my veggies to be gan jing. Lucas: They should be. If they aren't gan jing, you rinse them again. Luna: Fair enough. I'm being paranoid today. Good thing. Lucas: Paranoia keeps people safe in the kitchen. Once they are clean, you cut them up. Luna: Cut well? Or cut finished? Lucas: Close. Cut is qie. Finished or good is hao. So, cut well or cut ready. Luna: Qie hao. Lucas: Qie hao. It implies the cutting is done correctly and completely. Luna: Qie hao. Like, 'I have cut the onions.' Lucas: Exactly. Qie hao le. With the particle le, it shows completion. Luna: Qie hao le. Okay. So far: Xi cai, Xiao pi, Gan jing, Qie hao. Lucas: Four strong verbs. Now for the final state. When everything is ready to go into the wok. Luna: Ready? Like prepared? Lucas: Yes. Prepare or equip is bei. Complete or settled is tuo. So, fully prepared. Luna: Bei tuo. Lucas: Bei tuo. This is the magic word chefs use when they tell their assistants. Luna: Bei tuo. Let me practice. Bei tuo. Lucas: Beautiful. Bei tuo. Luna: Bei tuo. It sounds so professional. Lucas: It is. If you say 'Bei tuo', it means you are ready to cook. Luna: I feel ready. I have washed, peeled, cleaned, cut, and prepared. Lucas: You are basically a chef now. Before we finish, I want to mention something. Luna: Oh? What is it? Lucas: If Fexingo has been helping you make actual progress with this language, consider supporting us. It keeps the episodes ad-free and allows us to keep teaching. Luna: Yeah, it really does help. If you want to support the show, you can find us at buy me a coffee dot com slash fexingo — that's F. E. X. I. N. G. O. Lucas: Thanks for listening. Now, back to the kitchen. Luna: Back to the kitchen. Let's review those phrases one more time. Lucas: Wash vegetables. Xi cai. Luna: Xi cai. Lucas: Peel skin. Xiao pi. Luna: Xiao pi. Lucas: Clean. Gan jing. Luna: Gan jing. Lucas: Cut ready. Qie hao. Luna: Qie hao. Lucas: Fully prepared. Bei tuo. Luna: Bei tuo. Lucas: Imagine you are in a restaurant kitchen. You call out to your team. Luna: What do I say? Lucas: You shout, 'Xi cai! Xiao pi! Qie hao!' Luna: Xi cai! Xiao pi! Qie hao! Lucas: And then you announce, 'Bei tuo!' Luna: Bei tuo! Wow. That felt powerful. Lucas: It is. Preparation is half the battle in cooking. Luna: And in learning too. Prep your words before you speak. Lucas: Exactly. Bei tuo for life. Luna: I mean, Bei tuo for learning. Lucas: Same thing. Thanks for joining us on Learn Cantonese with Fexingo. Luna: See you next time. Keep practicing your Xi cai and Xiao pi. Lucas: Bye for now.