ngou4 zuk1熬粥
Jyutpingngou4 zuk1
Yalengòuh jūk
Definition
To boil congee, or to spend a long time talking on the phone.
- to cook congee or porridge by simmering
- slangto chat on the phone for a very long time
colloquialcommunicationfood
How it's used
Originally referring to the slow process of cooking congee, this term has evolved into a common slang for lengthy, often aimless, phone conversations. It carries a slightly playful or impatient nuance, implying that the conversation is dragging on unnecessarily. It is almost exclusively used in informal contexts to describe phone calls rather than face to face chats.
Examples
He talked to his girlfriend on the phone for ages.
Are you two talking on the phone for a long time again?
Related words
Common phrases
to have a long phone conversation
Common mistake
Do not use this to describe long face to face conversations, as it specifically implies the duration and nature of a phone call. It is also not used for formal meetings or serious discussions, as it carries a sense of triviality.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
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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.
