caau2 laang5 faan6炒冷飯炒冷饭
Jyutpingcaau2 laang5 faan6
Yalecháau láahng faahn
Definition
To repackage old concepts, products, or topics as new without any substantial change.
colloquialdaily actionsother
How it's used
This expression carries a clear negative connotation of laziness or lack of creativity. It is frequently used in professional or media contexts to criticize companies or creators who recycle old ideas instead of innovating. While it literally refers to cooking, it is almost exclusively used metaphorically in modern conversation.
Examples
keoi5佢dei6哋jau6又caau2炒laang5冷faan6飯，zoeng1將gau6舊kiu4橋dyun6段goi2改siu2少siu2少zau6就dong1當san1新hei3戲maai6賣。
They are beating a dead horse again, repackaging old plot points as a new movie.
Related words
Common phrases
beating a dead horse again
always recycling old ideas
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- LocationHow to say where something is using 喺 (hai2), place words like 度, and the common coverbs that work like English prepositions.
- Serial verbsStringing two or more verbs together without any joining word, like go to the shop buy things. Extremely common in Cantonese.
- 將 disposalHow to move the object in front of the verb with 將, to focus on what happens to it. Common in instructions and writing.
