gau2 daai6 gwai2九大簋

Jyutpinggau2 daai6 gwai2

Yalegáu daaih gwái

名詞

Definition

A lavish banquet or a very rich, abundant meal.

colloquialfoodfestival

How it's used

Originally referring to a specific set of nine traditional Cantonese dishes served at formal banquets, the term has evolved to describe any exceptionally grand or elaborate meal. It carries a strong connotation of hospitality and effort, suggesting that the host has gone out of their way to impress guests. You will often hear it used hyperbolically to describe a home-cooked meal that is far more extensive than necessary.

Measure word

caan1餐chān

Examples

gam1今maan5晚uk1屋kei2企zing2整gau2九daai6大gwai2簋hing3慶zuk1祝saang1生jat6日aa4呀。

We are preparing a lavish feast at home tonight to celebrate the birthday.

nei5你ping4平si4時sik6食faan6飯sai2使m4唔sai2使zing2整dou2到gau2九daai6大gwai2簋gam3咁kwaa1誇zoeng1張？

Do you really need to make such a lavish spread for a regular meal?

Common phrases

zing2整gau2九daai6大gwai2簋

to prepare a lavish feast

sik6食gau2九daai6大gwai2簋

to eat a lavish feast

Common mistake

Learners often mistake this for a literal count of nine dishes, but it is now an idiomatic expression for a feast in general. Do not expect exactly nine dishes when someone uses this term, as it simply emphasizes the abundance and quality of the food.