daa2 dai2打底
Jyutpingdaa2 dai2
Yaledá dái
Definition
To eat or drink something beforehand to line one's stomach.
colloquialfooddrink
How it's used
Primarily refers to the act of consuming food or drink to protect the stomach lining before alcohol intake or a long event. It carries a sense of practical wisdom or self-care, often used as advice to prevent getting drunk or feeling unwell. While it can metaphorically mean to lay a foundation for something, its most common usage remains strictly related to food and drink.
Examples
We're going drinking tonight, why don't you eat a bowl of rice to line your stomach first?
Related words
Common phrases
eat something to line the stomach
drink a glass of milk to line the stomach
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with the literal meaning of wearing a base layer of clothing, which is also called 打底. Context is essential to distinguish whether someone is talking about eating or getting dressed.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
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.
