老黄瓜 (lǎohuángguā) · mature yellow cucumber

Measure Word

一根老黄瓜 gēn

Meanings

1 mature yellow cucumber
2 old cucumber (for soup)

About the ingredient

蔬菜 Vegetables · In season: summer and autumn

A cucumber left on the vine until its skin turns tough, dry and yellow-brown, with firm flesh. Halved, seeded and often left unpeeled, it is simmered with pork bones in Cantonese soups.

Characters

Examples

HSK 6

老黄瓜皮变黄了，但肉还很脆。

Lǎohuángguā pí biàn huáng le, dàn ròu hái hěn cuì.

The skin of old cucumber turns yellow, but the flesh stays crisp.

HSK 7-9

老黄瓜煲汤特别清润。

Lǎohuángguā bāotāng tèbié qīng rùn.

Old cucumber makes a particularly refreshing soup.

Tips

culture

Cucumber left to ripen until the skin yellows. Flesh is firm and slightly sweet; mostly used in Cantonese 老火汤 (slow-simmered soups) with pork ribs and dried dates.