dek6 mai5糴米籴米
Jyutpingdek6 mai5
Yaledehk máih
Definition
To buy rice.
colloquialfooddaily actions
How it's used
Historically, this term specifically referred to purchasing grain in bulk from a supplier or a rural area, often implying a journey to secure a staple supply. While it is still used in modern Cantonese to mean buying rice, it carries a slightly old-fashioned or rustic nuance compared to the generic 買米. It is frequently used in a humorous or exaggerated way when someone is doing their regular grocery shopping.
Examples
We are out of rice at home, I need to go buy some.
Did you go buy rice today?
Common phrases
go to buy rice
Common mistake
Avoid using this for buying other types of food or general groceries, as it is strictly associated with rice. Using it for anything else will sound confusing or nonsensical to native speakers.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- NegationHow to say no, not, didn't, and don't in Cantonese. The four main negation words and when to use each one.
- Numbers and moneyCounting, talking about money, and asking how much things cost. Includes the two words for two and the everyday words for dollars and cents.
- 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.
