gwaa3 daan1 wo4 soeng2掛單和尚挂单和尚
Jyutpinggwaa3 daan1 wo4 soeng2
Yalegwa dāan wòh séung
Definition
To visit someone's house uninvited just to get a free meal.
colloquialfoodpeople
How it's used
Originally a Buddhist term referring to a traveling monk staying at a monastery, this has evolved into a sarcastic way to describe a 'freeloader' who visits someone specifically to eat. It carries a playful yet slightly critical tone, implying the person is unwelcome or overly opportunistic. It is most commonly used among friends or family when someone shows up right at dinner time without an invitation.
Examples
Are you coming to my place just to get a free meal again?
He is always going to his friends' places just to eat for free.
Related words
Common phrases
to go over to someone's place to freeload a meal
Common mistake
Do not use this term in a formal setting or with people you do not know well, as it can sound quite rude or aggressive. It is strictly for casual, teasing contexts among close acquaintances.
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.
