食飯
sik6 faan6
'time to eat' in Cantonese is expressed as 食飯 (sik6 faan6).
The phrase 食飯 is equivalent to 'have a meal' in English. It is used to announce that it is time to start eating.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase literally means 'eat rice'. The verb 食 (sik6) means 'to eat' and the noun 飯 (faan6) means 'cooked rice' or 'meal'.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
In colloquial spoken Cantonese, 食飯 is the standard way to say 'to eat a meal'.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Hong Kong, you might use the expression 食嘢啦 (sik6 je5 laa1). In Guangdong Province, China, the phrase 開飯啦 (hoi1 faan6 laa1) is popular.
How does it change in a sentence?
Adding the particle 喇 (laa3) to the end of the phrase to make 食飯喇 makes it a natural announcement that it is time to eat now.
How do you pronounce it?
sik6 faan6
Did you know?
- In certain social contexts, asking someone 食咗飯未? (Have you eaten yet?) is not a literal inquiry about their hunger, but a common way to say 'hello'.
- Cantonese speakers may use 食飯 to refer to their professional livelihood. Because 'eating rice' is essential for survival, the term is linked to the idea of earning a living or having a 'rice bowl' career.
- The phrase 開飯 used in Guangdong literally means 'open the rice'. This refers to the traditional act of opening the lid of the rice cooker or pot to signal that the meal has officially begun.
Examples in context
- 晏晝食飯啦！ (ngaan3 zau2 sik6 faan6 laa5!)Let's have lunch!
- 快啲，食嘢啦！ (faai3 di1, sik6 je5 laa1!)Come on, let's eat!
- 快啲，食飯啦！faai3 di1, sik6 faan6 laa1!Hurry up, it's time to eat!
- 我哋食飯啦。ngo5 dei6 sik6 faan6 laa1.Let's eat.
Example conversation
A mother calls her son to the dinner table.
- 雅婷 Nga Ting志強，食飯喇！Zi6 keung4, sik6 faan6 laa3!Zi Qiang, time to eat!
- 志強 Chi Keung好，我而家嚟。hou2, ngo5 ji4 gaa1 lai4.Okay, I'm coming now.
- 雅婷 Nga Ting快啲洗手然後食飯。faai3 di1 sai2 sau2 jin4 hau6 sik6 faan6.Wash your hands quickly and then eat.
- 志強 Chi Keung我洗好手喇。ngo5 sai2 hou2 sau2 laa3.I have washed my hands.
