lei6 hau2 m4 lei6 fuk1利口唔利腹
Jyutpinglei6 hau2 m4 lei6 fuk1
Yaleleih háu m̀h leih fūk
Definition
Tasty but unhealthy; pleasing to the palate but bad for the stomach.
colloquialfoodhealth
How it's used
This expression specifically targets food that tastes great but lacks nutritional value or causes digestive issues. It is often used by older generations to warn younger people against relying on processed snacks or deep fried foods. The phrase implies a contrast between the immediate pleasure of the palate and the long term impact on the body.
Examples
These snacks are tasty but unhealthy, eat less of them.
Related words
Common mistake
Do not use this to describe food that is simply expensive or difficult to prepare. It strictly refers to the health trade off between flavor and physical well being.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- LocationHow to say where something is using 喺 (hai2), place words like 度, and the common coverbs that work like English prepositions.
- Serial verbsStringing two or more verbs together without any joining word, like go to the shop buy things. Extremely common in Cantonese.
- 將 disposalHow to move the object in front of the verb with 將, to focus on what happens to it. Common in instructions and writing.
