je5 ho2 ji5 lyun6 sik6, syut3 waa6 m4 ho2 ji5 lyun6 gong2嘢可以亂食，說話唔可以亂講嘢可以乱食，说话唔可以乱讲

Jyutpingje5 ho2 ji5 lyun6 sik6, syut3 waa6 m4 ho2 ji5 lyun6 gong2

Yaleyéh hó yíh lyuhn sik6, syut wah m̀h hó yíh lyuhn góng

Definition

One must watch what they say more than what they eat; think before you speak.

colloquialcommunicationdaily actions

How it's used

This proverb serves as a stern warning about the social consequences of careless speech. It highlights that while bad food might cause a temporary stomach ache, reckless words can cause permanent damage to relationships or one's reputation. It is often invoked when someone is about to say something potentially offensive or indiscreet.

Examples

je5嘢ho2可ji5以lyun6亂sik6食，m4唔ho2可ji5以lyun6亂gong2講，nei5你siu2小sam1心di1啲aa4呀。

You can eat whatever you want, but watch what you say, be careful.

nei5你zi1知m4唔zi1知je5嘢ho2可ji5以lyun6亂sik6食，m4唔ho2可ji5以lyun6亂gong2講㗎？

Don't you know that you can eat anything, but you shouldn't say just anything?

Common phrases

lyun6亂gong2講je5嘢

to talk nonsense

lyun6亂sik6食je5嘢

to eat indiscriminately

Common mistake

Learners often try to shorten this phrase, but it is almost always used in its entirety to maintain the rhetorical contrast between eating and speaking. Using only half of the proverb loses the intended moral weight.