hoi1 faan6 laa1開飯喇开饭喇

Jyutpinghoi1 faan6 laa1

Yalehōi faahn lā

Definition

Time to eat! Let's eat! (an announcement that a meal is ready)

colloquialfooddaily actions

How it's used

This phrase is a quintessential expression of communal dining in Hong Kong households. It functions as a signal that the meal is prepared and everyone should gather at the table immediately. While it literally refers to opening the rice, it is used for any main meal of the day, not just dinner.

Examples

daai6大gaa1家faai3快di1啲co5坐dai1低，hoi1開faan6飯laa1喇！

Everyone sit down quickly, it's time to eat!

zung6仲mei6未hoi1開faan6飯laa1喇me1咩？ngo5我hou2好tou5肚ngo6餓aa4呀。

Is it not time to eat yet? I am very hungry.

Common phrases

zeon2準bei6備hoi1開faan6飯

preparing to eat

hoi1開faan6飯si4時gaan3間

meal time

Common mistake

Do not confuse this with the verb phrase 開飯, which simply means to start eating. Adding the particle 喇 turns it into an announcement or a call to action for others to join in.