In Oregon there is a Chinese Buffet Called "Hung Far Low" Can anyone tell me what it means in English

Question

For years we have heard of this restaurant (I've actually eaten there) but aside from the funny sounding name I'd like to know what it means in english.

Answer 1

Sounds like the name is in Cantonese (a popular Chinese dialect spoken mostly in Hong Kong and Canton)

This is how each word would sound like in Cantonese
Hung http://humanum.arts.cuhk.edu.hk/Lexis/Canton/sound/hung4.wav
Far http://humanum.arts.cuhk.edu.hk/Lexis/Canton/sound/faa1.wav
Low http://humanum.arts.cuhk.edu.hk/Lexis/Canton/sound/lau4.wav

Hung Far sounds like red flower
Low means restaurant or tower.

The full name means "Red Flower Restaurant"

The Mandarin pronunciation is very similar too, but it would be spelled "Hong Hua Lou"

Answer 2

Dennis has the correct answer. The r in far is a common spelling mistake that cantonese people make when writing names in English, and can be ignored. Just as an additional note, if the name Hung Far Low for a restaurant were translated into Japanese, the name would be Benihana. I wonder if they are related (joke).

Answer 3

"Far low" it's a Chinese dish that made from tripe. "Far low" is the word that pronouces really close to the original name. And Hung is just a name of the owner or someone. Vietnamese called it "phá lấu" and it also sounds close to "far low".

Answer 4

If you want to understand Mandarin but you have no clue where to commence then a program for Mandarin is the very best on the internet course for the newbies simply because it genuinely starts with the basis.

Answer 5

Hey fellow Oregonian. I am from the Salem area :D

Answer 6

That probably IS the meaning in english..LOL

Answer 7

It means the owner is well endowed