taam2嗿
Jyutpingtaam2
Yaletáam
Definition
The sound of many people eating.
colloquialfooddaily actions
How it's used
This onomatopoeic term specifically captures the wet, smacking noise produced when chewing food with one's mouth open. It is almost exclusively used in the reduplicated form 嗿嗿聲 to describe the auditory experience of a meal. Using it often implies that the person eating is being somewhat impolite or lacking in table manners.
Examples
The whole group of them is eating with loud chewing sounds.
Related words
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with general eating sounds or crunching noises, as it specifically refers to the sound of food being mashed in the mouth. It is considered rude to point this out directly to someone unless you are close to them.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
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Particle
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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.
