Latest / Learn Cantonese with Fexingo / Cantonese Cooking: Chopping & Slicing Basics
Transcript
- Lucas: Hey there. It is so good to be back with you for Episode 279 of Learn Cantonese with Fexingo. Luna: Hi everyone. I am still recovering from all that chopping we did last week. My hands are tired just thinking about it. Lucas: We have been doing a lot of prep work lately. Ep 277 was all about chopping and slicing techniques. Luna: Right. And Ep 278 was washing and peeling veggies. So today feels like a natural next step. Lucas: Exactly. Today we are going to focus on the specific actions of chopping and slicing, plus some garlic talk. Luna: I love garlic. But I am always nervous about chopping it safely. Lucas: That is why we have this phrase. It is very common in any Cantonese kitchen. Luna: What is it? Lucas: 切菜。 Qié cài. Luna: Qié cài. Lucas: It literally means 'cut vegetables'. Or generally, 'chopping food'. Luna: Okay. Qié cài. Lucas: Let me say it slowly. 切菜。 Then again. 切菜。 Luna: 切菜。 Got it. It sounds simple enough. Lucas: It is. You use it when you are prepping anything. Let's try a tiny scene. Luna: Oh sure. Lucas: Imagine you are standing at the counter. You pick up the knife. Luna: And what do you say? Lucas: You say, 'I am going to start cutting vegetables.' In Cantonese, that is just 切菜。 Luna: So if my partner asks what I am doing, I can say 切菜？ Lucas: Yes. Or you state it. 'I am 切菜。' Luna: I am 切菜。 That works perfectly. Lucas: Let's review it one more time before we move on. Listen closely. 切菜。 Luna: 切菜。 Lucas: Now, what if we are not cutting vegetables? What if we are making dumplings? Luna: Ah. Meat. Lucas: Yes. We need a different verb for meat. It is heavier. It requires more force. Luna: I guess so. Vegetables are light. Meat is heavy. Lucas: The word for chopping or mincing meat is 剁肉。 Duò ròu. Luna: Duò ròu. Lucas: Listen. 剁肉。 Again. 剁肉。 Luna: 剁肉。 Okay. It sounds more intense than cutting veggies. Lucas: It does. You usually use a cleaver for this. Not a small paring knife. Luna: Good thing I learned about the knives in Ep 262. Lucas: Exactly. So, if you are making filling for bao buns, you would say you are 剁肉。 Luna: I am 剁肉。 Lucas: Perfect. Let's hear it together. 剁肉。 Luna: 剁肉。 Lucas: One more time for practice. 剁肉。 Luna: 剁肉。 Nailed it. Lucas: There it is. Now, almost every Cantonese dish needs garlic. Luna: Definitely. How do people usually prepare it? Lucas: They often smash it first. To release the flavor easily. Luna: Smashing garlic. I like that. Lucas: The phrase is 拍蒜。 Pāi suàn. Luna: Pāi suàn. Lucas: Listen. 拍蒜。 Again. 拍蒜。 Luna: 拍蒜。 Okay. Smashing garlic. Lucas: Yes. You take the flat side of the knife and press down hard. Luna: So you say, 'I need to 拍蒜。' Lucas: Or 'I am going to 拍蒜。' Luna: I am going to 拍蒜。 Lucas: Let's repeat it. 拍蒜。 Luna: 拍蒜。 Lucas: One more. 拍蒜。 Luna: 拍蒜。 That was easier than I thought. Lucas: It is. These three verbs cover most of your prep work. Cut veg, chop meat, smash garlic. Luna: So fast. But wait. Is there a bigger picture word for all of this? Lucas: Yes. When you have finished cutting, chopping, and smashing, you are ready to cook. Luna: What do you call that state? Lucas: 備料。 Bèi liào. Luna: Bèi liào. Lucas: Listen. 備料。 Again. 備料。 Luna: 備料。 Prep the ingredients. Lucas: Exactly. Once everything is on the board, you are 備料。 Luna: So I can tell my guests, 'I am 備料。 Go sit down.' Lucas: Perfect. Let's say it together. 備料。 Luna: 備料。 Lucas: One more. 備料。 Luna: 備料。 I feel very professional now. Lucas: You should. But remember, safety first. Especially with the cleaver. Luna: Oh right. The sharp knives. Lucas: Yes. A common warning in the kitchen is this phrase. Luna: What is it? Lucas: 小心點。 Xiǎo xīn diǎn. Luna: Xiǎo xīn diǎn. Lucas: Listen. 小心點。 Again. 小心點。 Luna: 小心點。 Be careful. Lucas: Yes. If someone is holding a hot pan, you say 小心點。 Luna: If I am watching my toddler near the stove, I say 小心點。 Lucas: Exactly. It is versatile. Let's practice. 小心點。 Luna: 小心點。 Lucas: One more. 小心點。 Luna: 小心點。 I will definitely use that one. Lucas: Good. Let's run through the whole set quickly. Luna: Ready. Lucas: Cutting vegetables. Luna: 切菜。 Lucas: Chopping meat. Luna: 剁肉。 Lucas: Smashing garlic. Luna: 拍蒜。 Lucas: Prep done. Luna: 備料。 Lucas: Be careful. Luna: 小心點。 Lucas: Spot on. You are getting really comfortable with these. Luna: Thanks. It helps to have a clear picture of the kitchen steps. Lucas: It does. And knowing these words makes cooking in Cantonese much smoother. Luna: True. I want to try making that stir-fry we talked about earlier. Lucas: Then you will need these five phrases. They are your toolkit. Luna: My toolkit. I like that. Lucas: Just remember to keep your fingers tucked in while you 切菜。 Luna: Right. 小心點。 Lucas: Before we go, I want to mention something important about how this show exists. Luna: Oh? Lucas: We don't have ads. No commercials interrupting our lessons. It is entirely listener-funded. Luna: Yeah. I noticed that. It feels very clean. Lucas: A small group of supporters keeps the servers running and the scripts written. Luna: It is really appreciated by us. Lucas: If you want to join them, you can support us at buy me a coffee dot com slash fexingo — that's F. E. X. I. N. G. O. Luna: F. E. X. I. N. G. O. Even a small amount helps us make episodes like this. Lucas: Thank you. Now, let's wrap up our lesson. Luna: Last chance to say those phrases. 切菜。 Lucas: 剁肉。 Luna: 拍蒜。 Lucas: 備料。 Luna: 小心點。 Lucas: Great job today. Practice these while you wash your veggies. Luna: I will. See you next time.