gaan2 jam2 zaak6 sik6揀飲擇食拣饮择食
Jyutpinggaan2 jam2 zaak6 sik6
Yalegáan yám jaahk sihk
Definition
To be a fussy or picky eater; to selectively choose what to eat and drink.
colloquialfoodhealth
How it's used
This idiom is almost exclusively used to scold children or describe someone who is overly particular about their diet. It carries a slightly negative connotation of being spoiled or difficult to please. While it literally mentions both drinking and eating, it is frequently applied to any situation where someone refuses to eat specific ingredients.
Examples
Were you a fussy eater when you were a kid?
Kids shouldn't be picky eaters; you need to eat a bit of everything to be healthy.
Related words
Common phrases
don't be a picky eater
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with simply having a food allergy or a dietary restriction. Using this term implies that the person is being difficult or childish rather than having a legitimate medical reason for avoiding certain foods.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- QuestionsFrom yes or no questions to asking who, what, where, and when. The patterns you need to ask questions naturally in Cantonese.
- ClassifiersCantonese puts a classifier between a number and a noun, and a bare classifier on its own can mean the. Learn the common ones and how to use them.
- ComparisonsHow to say bigger than, the most, the same as, and not as good as. Cantonese uses 過 where Mandarin uses 比, and that catches a lot of learners out.
