jau5 mei6有味
Jyutpingjau5 mei6
Yaleyáuh meih
Definition
Spoiled or gone bad, or describing obscene or dirty content.
- spoiled; gone bad; sour (of food)
- slangobscene; dirty; related to sex
colloquialfooddescriptions
How it's used
Distinguishing between the literal and figurative meanings depends entirely on context. When referring to food, it implies a sour or fermented smell indicating spoilage, whereas when applied to jokes or behavior, it specifically targets sexual impropriety. It is a common way to describe someone who is being inappropriate without using more aggressive or vulgar terms.
Examples
This box of rice has been sitting out for a long time, it seems to have gone bad.
He is always telling dirty jokes, it is very embarrassing.
Related words
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with 有味道, which simply means something has a distinct flavor or scent. Using 有味 for a delicious dish would be a major mistake, as it suggests the food is spoiled.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
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Grammar guides
- 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.
- In 30 secondsThe whole language at a glance. No tenses, no plurals, six tones, sentence particles. Read this before you dive into any specific topic.
- ParticlesSentence particles add tone, emotion, and nuance. Learn the most common particles in Cantonese and how to use them.
