si6 jing3侍應侍应
Jyutpingsi6 jing3
Yalesih ying
Definition
Waiter or waitress; a restaurant server.
colloquialpeoplework
How it's used
While 侍應 is the standard term for a waiter or waitress, people in Hong Kong often use the English loanword waiter or waitress directly in casual speech. Using 侍應 sounds slightly more formal or descriptive, especially when referring to someone's occupation rather than addressing them directly. When calling for service in a restaurant, it is much more common to use 唔該 or 靚仔/靚女 instead of calling out 侍應.
Measure word
go3個goExamples
Have you asked the waiter for the bill yet?
Related words
Common phrases
restaurant waiter
Common mistake
Avoid using 侍應 as a direct form of address to get someone's attention in a restaurant, as it can sound impersonal or even slightly rude. Always use 唔該 to flag down staff.
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.
