maan6 jung6慢用
Definition
Enjoy your meal; a polite phrase used to invite someone to eat or to excuse oneself from the table.
How it's used
This phrase serves as a polite, slightly formal way to wish someone a pleasant meal, often used by restaurant staff or when leaving a dining table before others have finished. Unlike the more casual 慢慢食, which is strictly for encouraging someone to eat at a relaxed pace, 慢用 functions as a social grace that acknowledges the dining experience as a whole. It carries a professional or respectful tone that fits well in service settings or when dining with elders or business associates.
Examples
Related words
Common phrases
Common mistake
Do not use this phrase with close friends or family in a casual home setting, as it sounds overly stiff and distant. Use 慢慢食 instead for informal, everyday situations.
Grammar color guide
Grammar guides
- NegationHow to say no, not, didn't, and don't in Cantonese. The four main negation words and when to use each one.
- Numbers and moneyCounting, talking about money, and asking how much things cost. Includes the two words for two and the everyday words for dollars and cents.
- 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.
