jam2 seoi2 mei5飲水尾饮水尾
Jyutpingjam2 seoi2 mei5
Yaleyám séui méih
Definition
To drink or finish the leftover soup in a pot or bowl.
colloquialfood
How it's used
Refers specifically to the dregs or the final portion of soup left in a pot after the main ingredients have been served. It carries a sense of frugality, often implying that one is consuming the last bit to avoid throwing food away. While it literally mentions water, it is almost exclusively used in the context of soup.
Examples
Finish the leftover soup after boiling it, don't waste it.
Are you still drinking that leftover soup? You might as well pour it out.
Related words
Common phrases
to drink the leftover dregs of soup
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with 飲水, which simply means to drink water. Using 飲水尾 for regular drinking water will sound confusing or nonsensical to native speakers.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- NegationHow to say no, not, didn't, and don't in Cantonese. The four main negation words and when to use each one.
- Numbers and moneyCounting, talking about money, and asking how much things cost. Includes the two words for two and the everyday words for dollars and cents.
- Aspect markersCantonese has no tenses, but it does have aspect markers. Learn how zo2, gwo3, gan2, and hai2 dou6 show completion, experience, and ongoing action.
