mai5 faan6米飯米饭
Jyutpingmai5 faan6
Yalemáih faahn
Definition
Cooked rice.
writtenfood
How it's used
While 米飯 is understood by all speakers, it is primarily a formal or written term that sounds slightly stiff in daily conversation. Most locals simply use 飯 to refer to cooked rice in almost every context. Using 米飯 in casual settings can make you sound like you are reading from a textbook or a formal news report.
Measure word
wun2碗wúnExamples
Have you eaten rice yet?
There is no cooked rice left at home.
Related words
Common phrases
to eat rice
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with 米, which refers specifically to raw, uncooked rice grains. Using 米飯 to describe the raw product you buy at the supermarket is incorrect.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- TonesCantonese has six tones, and the tones can change in certain grammatical contexts. Learn the six tones and the rules for tone change.
- Time and datesClock time, days of the week, months, and years. The patterns you need to make plans and talk about when things happen.
- Modal verbsHow to say can, will, may, should, must, and want. The core modal verbs of Cantonese and the differences that trip up beginners.
