sik6 gwo3 je6 zuk1食過夜粥食过夜粥
Jyutpingsik6 gwo3 je6 zuk1
Yalesihk gwo yeh jūk
Definition
To have trained in martial arts; to have acquired special skills or expertise.
- to have trained in martial arts
- figurativeto have acquired some skills, training, or expertise
colloquialpeopledaily actions
How it's used
Originating from the tradition of martial arts students training late into the night and eating congee to sustain their energy, this idiom has evolved to describe anyone with hidden skills or experience. It is frequently used in a slightly boastful or challenging tone to imply that someone is not as inexperienced as they appear. It is rarely used to describe actual cooking or eating habits today.
Examples
Looking at his agility, he must have studied martial arts before.
Related words
Common phrases
really has some serious skills
Common mistake
Do not interpret this literally as eating congee at night, as it will cause confusion. It is specifically used to refer to martial arts training or, more broadly, having significant life experience or hidden talents.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- Aspect markersCantonese has no tenses, but it does have aspect markers. Learn how zo2, gwo3, gan2, and hai2 dou6 show completion, experience, and ongoing action.
- In 30 secondsThe whole language at a glance. No tenses, no plurals, six tones, sentence particles. Read this before you dive into any specific topic.
- ParticlesSentence particles add tone, emotion, and nuance. Learn the most common particles in Cantonese and how to use them.
