jat1 jam2 ji4 zeon6一飲而盡一饮而尽
Jyutpingjat1 jam2 ji4 zeon6
Yaleyāt yám yìh jeuhn
Definition
To drink up in one gulp; to drain a cup of alcohol or another drink in a single breath.
colloquialdrinkdaily actions
How it's used
This idiom carries a sense of boldness or decisiveness, often used in social settings like toasting or drinking games. While it describes the physical act of finishing a drink, it also implies a certain level of enthusiasm or lack of hesitation. It is more formal or literary in its structure compared to the common spoken phrase 一啖飲晒.
Examples
He picked up the glass and downed the drink in one gulp, so refreshing.
Do you really need to down it all at once? Just drink it slowly.
Related words
Common phrases
to down a drink in one gulp in a bold manner
Common mistake
Learners often mistake this for a standard verb phrase, but it is a set idiom that sounds slightly dramatic in casual conversation. Using it when drinking water or coffee in a normal office setting can sound overly theatrical or intense.
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.
