sik6 wong4 gaa1 faan6食皇家飯食皇家饭
Jyutpingsik6 wong4 gaa1 faan6
Yalesihk wòhng gā faahn
Definition
To be imprisoned or serve time in jail.
colloquialpeopleother
How it's used
This expression carries a cynical and slightly humorous tone, often used to avoid explicitly saying someone is a criminal. It reflects the colonial era when the government was referred to as the Royal authority. Nowadays, it remains a common way to refer to incarceration without sounding overly formal or legalistic.
Examples
Behave yourself if you don't want to end up in prison.
Related words
Common phrases
to go to prison
Common mistake
Do not use this phrase to describe eating at a government banquet or official event, as it specifically refers to the prison system. Using it in the wrong context can lead to major misunderstandings.
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.
