lai6 seoi2例水
Jyutpinglai6 seoi2
Yalelaih séui
Definition
Tasteless soup provided for free by Hong Kong restaurants.
colloquialfooddim sum
How it's used
Refers specifically to the complimentary soup served alongside set meals in local cha chaan tengs or fast food shops. It is often jokingly described as having no flavor because it is made in massive batches with minimal ingredients. Locals often use this term to lower expectations before even tasting the soup.
Measure word
wun2碗wúnExamples
Related words
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with proper soups ordered from a menu, which are usually referred to as 老火湯. Using this term for a high quality or expensive soup would be considered rude or sarcastic.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- QuestionsFrom yes or no questions to asking who, what, where, and when. The patterns you need to ask questions naturally in Cantonese.
- ClassifiersCantonese puts a classifier between a number and a noun, and a bare classifier on its own can mean the. Learn the common ones and how to use them.
- ComparisonsHow to say bigger than, the most, the same as, and not as good as. Cantonese uses 過 where Mandarin uses 比, and that catches a lot of learners out.
