hoi1 wai6 coi3開胃菜开胃菜

Jyutpinghoi1 wai6 coi3

Yalehōi waih choi

名詞

Definition

Appetizer; dishes that whet the appetite.

neutralfooddim sum

How it's used

Refers specifically to small dishes served before a meal to stimulate the palate. While common in restaurant menus, it is less frequently used in casual home settings where people might simply refer to such dishes as 前菜 or 小食. The term carries a slightly more formal or culinary connotation compared to everyday snacks.

Measure word

dip2碟díp

Examples

le1呢dip2碟hoi1開wai6胃coi3菜syun1酸syun1酸tim4甜tim4甜，hou2好sing2醒san4神。

This appetizer is sweet and sour, very refreshing.

nei5你zung6仲jau5有mou5冇kei4其taa1他hoi1開wai6胃coi3菜teoi1推gaai3介aa4呀？

Do you have any other appetizer recommendations?

Common phrases

zing1精zi3緻hoi1開wai6胃coi3菜

exquisite appetizer

hoi1開wai6胃coi3菜ping3拼pun2盤

appetizer platter

Common mistake

Do not confuse this with 醒胃, which is an adjective describing the effect of food rather than the dish itself. Using 開胃菜 to describe any small snack is technically incorrect as it implies a function of preparing the stomach for the main course.