siu1 zai6消滯消滞
Jyutpingsiu1 zai6
Yalesīu jaih
Definition
To relieve indigestion, bloating, or stomach discomfort caused by overeating.
colloquialfoodhealth
How it's used
This term is deeply rooted in the Cantonese dietary culture of drinking tea after a heavy meal. It specifically refers to clearing the feeling of fullness or stagnation in the stomach after overeating, rather than treating general stomach pain or illness. It is frequently associated with drinking strong Chinese teas like 普洱 or eating 山楂 products.
Examples
After eating so much, drink a cup of Pu'er tea to relieve the indigestion.
Do you have any way to relieve indigestion?
Related words
Common phrases
drink tea to relieve indigestion
eat hawthorn to relieve indigestion
Common mistake
Do not use this to describe general stomach aches caused by illness or food poisoning. It is strictly for the feeling of being overly full or having slow digestion after a heavy meal.
Grammar color guide
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Grammar guides
- Directional complementsThe small words added after a verb to show direction of movement, like up, down, out, in, and back. Common in everyday Cantonese.
- DemonstrativesThis and that with 呢 and 嗰, the personal pronouns, and how 哋 turns I, you, and he into we, you all, and they.
- Resultative complementsSticking a result word onto a verb to show how it turned out, like eat until full or look and find. A productive everyday pattern.
