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虾子 (xiā zǐ) — shrimp roe; shrimp eggs (culinary ingredient)

Definition

In Cantonese and southern Chinese cooking, 虾子 (xiā zǐ) refers specifically to shrimp roe — the tiny eggs of the shrimp, used as a seasoning. It is not the same as 虾 ('shrimp' as a whole creature).

noun
shrimp roeshrimp eggs (culinary ingredient)
Measure word · 颗

Examples

  • 虾子，。
    Zhè wǎn miàn jiā le xiā zǐ, wèi dào tè bié xiān.
    This bowl of noodles has shrimp roe added; the flavor is especially umami.
  • 虾子。
    xiā zǐ Shì guǎng dōng cài lǐ cháng yòng de shí cái.
    Shrimp roe is a commonly used ingredient in Cantonese cuisine.
  • 虾子。
    Mā ma yòng xiā zǐ chǎo le yì pán dòu fu.
    Mom stir-fried a plate of tofu with shrimp roe.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

虾xiāshrimp
子zǐeggs/roe

虾 names the shrimp, and 子 means its eggs or roe; together they refer to shrimp eggs used as a culinary ingredient.

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 蝦; 虾 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
虫虫chónginsect
Sound part声符shēngfú
叚
叚jiǎ蝦xiā
Same sound today

In the traditional form 蝦, 虫 is the insect part and 叚 is the sound part; the simplified 虾 is a later abbreviation.

Open 虾 →

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

子 is drawn as a baby with a large head, arms stretched out, and legs wrapped in a blanket.

Open 子 →
Appears in
Meat & Seafood

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