Seafood

Grass Carp

A long near-cylindrical freshwater grass carp with an olive-grey back and large scales.

3 identity clues

Long near-cylindrical body
Blunt rounded head
Large regular scales and forked tail

Reading language:

Names in other languages

繁體中文: 鯇魚
English: Grass Carp
Bahasa Indonesia: Ikan karp rumput (鯇魚)
Tagalog: Grass Carp (鯇魚) — isang uri ng freshwater carp

Name in Cantonese (Jyutping): waan5 jyu4

What is it?

鯇魚 is the Hong Kong grass carp, Ctenopharyngodon idella, sold whole or in sections.

How to identify it

On a whole fish, check the long cylindrical body, blunt head, large regular scales and forked tail; confirm cut sections with the stall label.

Common Hong Kong household uses

Confirm the dish, quantity and cut with the employer before preparation, then cook thoroughly.

Choosing & preparing

Keep raw seafood separate from cooked food, use separate boards and knives, wash hands and contact surfaces, clean it for its type, and cook thoroughly.

Storage

Refrigerate promptly in a covered container at 4°C or below, under cooked food. Fresh fish has clear full eyes, red moist gills and firm flesh; discard cloudy or sunken eyes, brown dry gills, soft flesh or a strong off-odour.

Helper tip

Check the whole form, freshness and stall label; if uncertain, photograph it for the employer.

What Ma’am or Sir may say

買一段鯇魚腩，影埋檔牌俾我睇。

The employer wants this seafood item and requires the fish or shellfish and stall label to be checked.

Useful market phrase

唔該要一段鯇魚腩。

Meaning: One section of Grass Carp, please.

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Last reviewed: 2026-08-24

Sources (8)