sik6 saang1 coi3食生菜
Jyutpingsik6 saang1 coi3
Yalesihk sāang choi
Definition
To do a simple, effortless task; as easy as pie.
- to eat lettuce
- figurativeto do a very easy task
colloquialfooddaily actions
How it's used
Comparing a task to eating lettuce highlights how effortless and natural the action feels. It is the standard Cantonese equivalent to the English idiom easy as pie. Use it when you want to emphasize that a challenge is actually trivial or requires very little mental effort.
Examples
Making this lunchbox is easier than pie.
Do you really think this job is as easy as pie?
Related words
Common phrases
easier than eating lettuce
Common mistake
Do not use this phrase to describe something that is physically simple but potentially dangerous or complex. It specifically refers to tasks that are low stakes and require minimal skill.
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.
