gung1 faai3公筷
Jyutpinggung1 faai3
Yalegūng faai
Definition
Serving chopsticks used to transfer food to one's own plate or bowl during a shared meal.
colloquialfooddaily actions
How it's used
Public health awareness in Hong Kong has made this term standard practice in almost all dining situations involving shared dishes. It is common to see restaurants proactively provide a distinct color or style of chopsticks specifically for this purpose to avoid confusion with personal ones. Using them is considered a basic sign of good manners and consideration for others at the table.
Measure word
deoi3對deuiExamples
Could you please bring us another pair of serving chopsticks?
Remember to use the serving chopsticks to pick up food, it's more hygienic.
Common mistake
Do not confuse the function of these with personal chopsticks. A common mistake for learners is to accidentally use the serving chopsticks to eat directly from, which is considered unhygienic and socially awkward in a communal dining setting.
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.
