zau2 gaa1酒家
Jyutpingzau2 gaa1
Yalejáu gā
Definition
A Chinese restaurant, especially mid-range restaurants serving Cantonese cuisine, dim sum, and seafood.
colloquialfooddim sum
How it's used
Traditional Cantonese restaurants often include this term in their names to signal they offer a full range of services, including dim sum during the day and banquet-style dinners at night. It carries a slightly more formal or traditional feel compared to the generic 餐廳. You will frequently see it paired with descriptors like 大 to emphasize the scale of the establishment.
Measure word
gaan1間gānExamples
Let's go to that restaurant for dim sum tomorrow.
The seafood at this restaurant is very fresh.
Related words
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with 酒吧, which refers specifically to a bar or pub. Using the wrong one will lead to significant confusion about whether you are going for a family meal or a night of drinking.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- TonesCantonese has six tones, and the tones can change in certain grammatical contexts. Learn the six tones and the rules for tone change.
- Time and datesClock time, days of the week, months, and years. The patterns you need to make plans and talk about when things happen.
- Modal verbsHow to say can, will, may, should, must, and want. The core modal verbs of Cantonese and the differences that trip up beginners.
