ngo6 gwai2 tau4 toi1餓鬼投胎饿鬼投胎
Jyutpingngo6 gwai2 tau4 toi1
Yalengoh gwái tàuh tōi
Definition
To eat like a starving ghost; eating with no manners, taking large mouthfuls, and eating too quickly.
colloquialfoodslang
How it's used
This idiom literally refers to a hungry ghost being reincarnated, implying the person is acting as if they have not eaten for several lifetimes. It is used to tease someone for eating in an unrefined, frantic, or gluttonous manner. You will mostly hear this used in casual settings among friends or family to playfully criticize someone's table manners.
Examples
You eat like a starving ghost, slow down a bit.
They are like starving ghosts, they finished all the food in no time.
Related words
Common phrases
like a starving ghost
Common mistake
Do not use this to describe someone who is simply hungry or has a big appetite, as it specifically targets the lack of manners and the speed of eating. It carries a slightly derogatory tone, so avoid using it with people you do not know well.
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.
