jam2飲饮
Jyutpingjam2
Yaleyám
Definition
To drink; to swallow or take in liquid through the mouth.
Example
colloquialdrinkdaily actions
How it's used
Beyond the literal act of consuming liquids, 飲 is frequently used in social contexts to refer to attending a wedding banquet, often phrased as 飲宴 or simply 飲. It implies a festive atmosphere where guests gather to celebrate and toast the couple. When someone asks if you are going to 飲, they are almost certainly asking about your attendance at a wedding dinner.
Examples
I want to drink a cup of iced milk tea.
Related words
Common phrases
to go for dim sum
to drink alcohol
to attend a wedding banquet
Common mistake
Learners often confuse 飲 with 食, as Cantonese speakers use 食 for many things that are consumed, including soup or medicine. While you can use 飲 for soup, it is equally common to say 食湯, whereas you would never use 食 for water or tea.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- Directional complementsThe small words added after a verb to show direction of movement, like up, down, out, in, and back. Common in everyday Cantonese.
- DemonstrativesThis and that with 呢 and 嗰, the personal pronouns, and how 哋 turns I, you, and he into we, you all, and they.
- Resultative complementsSticking a result word onto a verb to show how it turned out, like eat until full or look and find. A productive everyday pattern.
