hek3 gwong1吃光
Jyutpinghek3 gwong1
Yalehek gwōng
Definition
To finish eating; to eat everything up.
colloquialfooddaily actions
How it's used
Native speakers use the character 晒 to express the concept of finishing or exhausting something completely. While 吃光 is common in written Mandarin, it sounds unnatural and overly formal in spoken Cantonese. Using 晒 after a verb is the standard way to convey that an action has been carried out to completion.
Related words
Common mistake
Avoid using 吃光 in daily conversation as it will sound like you are reading from a textbook. Always prefer the structure of verb plus 晒 to indicate that something is finished or gone.
Grammar color guide
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Grammar guides
- TonesCantonese has six tones, and the tones can change in certain grammatical contexts. Learn the six tones and the rules for tone change.
- Time and datesClock time, days of the week, months, and years. The patterns you need to make plans and talk about when things happen.
- Modal verbsHow to say can, will, may, should, must, and want. The core modal verbs of Cantonese and the differences that trip up beginners.
