lai6 paai2例牌

Jyutpinglai6 paai2

Yalelaih páai

形容詞Uncommon

Definition

As usual; same old way; customary or habitual.

colloquialdaily actionspeople

How it's used

Originally a term from restaurants referring to the standard portion size of a dish, it has evolved into a common way to describe predictable, habitual behavior. It carries a slightly cynical or resigned tone, implying that the person's action is so expected that it is almost boring or annoying. It is most effective when describing negative or repetitive habits that someone just cannot seem to break.

Examples

keoi5佢lai6例paai2牌ci4遲dou3到㗎gaa2喇，laa1唔m4使sai2等dang2佢keoi5喇。

He is late as usual, no need to wait for him.

fong3放gung1工zi1之hau6後，nei5你hai6係mai6咪lai6例paai2牌heoi3去jam2飲bui1杯je5嘢aa4呀？

Do you usually go for a drink after work?

Common phrases

lai6例paai4牌coi3菜

standard dish

lai6例paai2牌dung6動zok3作

routine action

Common mistake

Do not confuse this with the literal meaning of a standard restaurant portion. While it is still used in dining contexts to order a regular plate of meat, using it to describe a person's behavior is a metaphorical extension that requires a context of predictability.