haam4 jyu4 baak6 coi3鹹魚白菜咸鱼白菜
Jyutpinghaam4 jyu4 baak6 coi3
Yalehàahm yùh baahk choi
Definition
A humble meal; a simple, inexpensive dinner, typically used as a polite, self-deprecating expression by a host.
colloquialfoodpeople
How it's used
Using this phrase is a classic way to show modesty when hosting guests. It frames a meal as basic or rustic even if the food served is actually quite decent. It reflects a traditional cultural value where hosts downplay their own hospitality to avoid appearing boastful.
Measure word
caan1餐chānExamples
We only have a humble meal today, please don't mind.
Since you've come to my place, you'll only be having a simple meal.
Related words
Common mistake
Do not use this phrase literally when you are actually serving a feast, as it might sound like you are fishing for compliments or being overly dramatic. It is intended for genuine, simple home-cooked meals.
Grammar color guide
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Grammar guides
- In 30 secondsThe whole language at a glance. No tenses, no plurals, six tones, sentence particles. Read this before you dive into any specific topic.
- ParticlesSentence particles add tone, emotion, and nuance. Learn the most common particles in Cantonese and how to use them.
- Possession (嘅)How to say my, your, and his, and how to link a describing word to a noun, all with the little word 嘅 (ge3).
