cou1 caa4 daam6 faan6粗茶淡飯粗茶淡饭
Jyutpingcou1 caa4 daam6 faan6
Yalechōu chàh daahm faahn
Definition
Simple and plain food; humble and ordinary fare.
colloquialfooddaily actions
How it's used
Used as a humble expression when hosting guests, this phrase frames a modest meal as a sign of sincerity rather than a lack of hospitality. It emphasizes the quality of the company over the extravagance of the dishes served. It is frequently employed as a polite disclaimer before serving a home-cooked meal to visitors.
Examples
We usually just have simple, plain meals at home; health is what matters most.
It's just a simple meal tonight, please don't mind.
Related words
Common phrases
Please don't mind the simple meal.
Common mistake
Do not use this phrase to describe food that is actually unpalatable or spoiled. It is strictly a self-deprecating term for humble, home-style cooking and should never be used to criticize someone else's food.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- 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.
- Possession (嘅)How to say my, your, and his, and how to link a describing word to a noun, all with the little word 嘅 (ge3).
