Geng (dish) facts for kids
A bowl of meat-based geng
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| Type | Soup |
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| Place of origin | China |
Gēng (pronounced 'gung') is a special kind of soup from China. It can be thick or clear. What makes it special is that it's often made with a thickening ingredient like starch. This makes the soup smooth and a bit see-through. Many different Chinese soups are made this way, like corn soup or Madame Song's fish soup.
Contents
History of Geng Soup
Geng soups have been a big part of Chinese cuisine for a very long time. People have been making them since ancient times, even before the Shang Dynasty (around 1600 BC). Back then, the word "geng" was used for almost any cooked soup or stew. Families ate it every day and also during special celebrations.
Today, you can find many different kinds of geng soups. They are very popular in the night markets of Taiwan. You'll also find them often in Fujian cuisine and Taiwanese cuisine. In Taiwan, the Chinese character for geng is sometimes written in slightly different ways.
The words for soup or stew in other languages, like Lao (kǣng) and Thai (gɛɛng), might have come from the old Chinese pronunciation of geng. The Vietnamese word for soup, canh, also comes from the Chinese word for geng.
Cultural Sayings About Geng
Because geng has been so important in Chinese culture, it appears in many famous sayings. These sayings are like idioms that teach a lesson or describe a situation.
Sharing a Cup of Geng
The saying "Share a cup of geng" (分一杯羹) means to join in and get a part of something profitable. It means you want to share in the benefits or rewards, even if they came from a difficult situation. This saying comes from an old story about two leaders, Liu Bang and Xiang Yu.
Shop-Closing Geng
Another saying is "Shop-closing geng" (閉門羹). This means to politely turn away guests or customers that you don't want to see. It's like making an excuse to avoid someone without being rude.
Washing Hands to Make Geng
"Washing hands to make geng" (洗手作羹湯) comes from a poem. It describes the efforts a new bride makes to fit in and be accepted by her new family. It shows how she tries her best to please them.
The traditional Chinese spoon is called "diào gēng" (調羹). This name means "the tool that carries geng," showing how important geng soup is.
See also
In Spanish: Geng para niños
