zou6 faan6做飯做饭
Jyutpingzou6 faan6
Yalejouh faahn
Definition
To cook; to make or prepare food.
colloquialfooddaily actions
How it's used
While 做飯 is understood, native speakers almost exclusively use 煮飯 or 煮野食 in daily life. Using 做飯 can sound slightly formal or influenced by Mandarin, as it mirrors the structure of the Mandarin term. In a casual home setting, 煮飯 is the standard way to describe the act of preparing a meal.
Examples
Are you planning to cook tonight?
I start cooking as soon as I get home.
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often use 做飯 because it is a direct translation of the Mandarin term, but it sounds unnatural in casual Cantonese conversation compared to 煮飯.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
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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.
