daam6 mau6 mau6淡茂茂
Jyutpingdaam6 mau6 mau6
Yaledaahm mauh mauh
Definition
Bland, tasteless, or lacking flavor.
colloquialfood
How it's used
The reduplicative structure adds an emphatic, slightly negative tone, suggesting that the lack of flavor is noticeable or disappointing. It is strictly used for food and drink, unlike the more general term 淡 which can also describe colors or relationships. You will often hear it used when someone is complaining about a meal that lacks seasoning.
Examples
This bowl of soup is completely tasteless, add some salt.
Related words
Common mistake
Avoid using this to describe abstract concepts like a boring person or a dull event, as it is strictly reserved for gustatory experiences.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- Directional complementsThe small words added after a verb to show direction of movement, like up, down, out, in, and back. Common in everyday Cantonese.
- DemonstrativesThis and that with 呢 and 嗰, the personal pronouns, and how 哋 turns I, you, and he into we, you all, and they.
- Resultative complementsSticking a result word onto a verb to show how it turned out, like eat until full or look and find. A productive everyday pattern.
