zeon3 sik6進食进食
Jyutpingzeon3 sik6
Yalejeun sihk
Definition
To eat; to ingest food by chewing and swallowing to absorb nutrients.
writtenfoodhealth
How it's used
Formal register makes this word sound clinical or academic, often appearing in medical advice, news reports, or restaurant signage. In daily life, native speakers almost exclusively use 食嘢 or 食飯 instead. Using it in casual conversation can sound overly stiff or like you are reading from a textbook.
Examples
Has the patient eaten yet?
They are eating in the restaurant.
Related words
Common mistake
Avoid using this in casual social settings, as it sounds like you are describing a biological process rather than enjoying a meal. It is strictly for formal contexts or when discussing health and nutrition.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- QuestionsFrom yes or no questions to asking who, what, where, and when. The patterns you need to ask questions naturally in Cantonese.
- ClassifiersCantonese puts a classifier between a number and a noun, and a bare classifier on its own can mean the. Learn the common ones and how to use them.
- ComparisonsHow to say bigger than, the most, the same as, and not as good as. Cantonese uses 過 where Mandarin uses 比, and that catches a lot of learners out.
