caau2 maai4 jat1 dip6炒埋一碟
Jyutpingcaau2 maai4 jat1 dip6
Yalecháau màaih yāt dihp
Definition
To mix or combine things together without much organization; to throw together.
colloquialdaily actionswork
How it's used
Originally a culinary term referring to stir frying various ingredients together in one wok, this phrase has evolved into a common metaphor for poor organization. It implies that the resulting combination is messy, lacks coherence, or is done in a lazy, slapdash manner. It is frequently used in professional or academic contexts to criticize work that feels like a thoughtless compilation of existing materials.
Examples
Don't just mix up things that aren't related.
He just threw several reports together and submitted them.
Related words
Common phrases
to mix things together in a disorganized way
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with simply mixing ingredients for a recipe, where it would be literal. The phrase carries a strong negative connotation of incompetence or lack of effort when applied to ideas, documents, or plans.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
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Grammar guides
- Aspect markersCantonese has no tenses, but it does have aspect markers. Learn how zo2, gwo3, gan2, and hai2 dou6 show completion, experience, and ongoing action.
- In 30 secondsThe whole language at a glance. No tenses, no plurals, six tones, sentence particles. Read this before you dive into any specific topic.
- ParticlesSentence particles add tone, emotion, and nuance. Learn the most common particles in Cantonese and how to use them.
