tai2 sung3 sik6 faan6睇餸食飯睇餸食饭

Jyutpingtai2 sung3 sik6 faan6

Yaletái sung sihk faahn

Definition

To act according to circumstances or live within one's means; to adapt based on what is available.

to act according to circumstances; to adapt to the situation
to live within one's means; to budget based on what is available

colloquialmoneydaily actions

How it's used

Literally meaning to look at the dishes available before eating rice, this phrase captures the pragmatic mindset of adjusting one's actions based on available resources or current constraints. It is frequently used in financial contexts to advise against overspending, but it applies equally to any situation where one must assess the reality of the environment before making a move.

Examples

ji4而gaa1家ging1經zai3濟m4唔hou2好，ngo5我dei6哋dou1都jiu3要tai2睇sung3餸sik6食faan6飯。

The economy is not good right now, so we have to live within our means.

nei5你zou6做je5嘢jiu3要tai2睇sung3餸sik6食faan6飯，m4唔hou2好lyun6亂gam3咁lai4嚟aa3呀。

You need to act according to the situation when working, don't just do whatever you want.

Common phrases

hok6學sik1識tai2睇sung3餸sik6食faan6飯

learn to live within one's means

Common mistake

Learners often mistake this for a literal instruction about dining etiquette, but it is almost exclusively used as a metaphor for prudence and adaptability in life or work.