- Feeling excited that the city has relaxed some of its social-distancing rules so we can eat dinner at restaurants again?
- Here are five phrases you can show off the next time you dine out at any Hong Kong eatery
Pick up some Cantonese slang you can use the next time you’re eating out. Photo: Xiaomei ChenWith Hong Kong’s fifth wave of coronavirus infections under control, social-distancing measures are gradually relaxing, allowing residents to enjoy more outings and social gatherings.
For those who are eager to finally be allowed to dine out at night, we are sharing some useful phrases for eating at restaurants.
Did you know that there is slang to describe those who always help finish off the last bite of everyone’s dishes? Or that Hongkongers have their own term for à la carte dishes? Read on to beef up your tableside manners for dining out in the city.
As the coronavirus spread in Hong Kong, so did these Cantonese phrases
1. Share a table with strangers: 搭枱 daap3 toi2 (dahp-toy)
Context: This is a common practice in Hong Kong’s busy, space-starved restaurants, especially cha chaan teng and dai pai dong. Seating individuals or small groups at a large table with strangers benefits customers, who get to eat more quickly, and the eatery, which gets more business.
In English: to sit at a table with strangers
Example: During the busy lunch hours, you will get a seat more quickly at this popular restaurant if you are willing to dahp-toy.
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2. Order à la carte: 散嗌 saan2 aai3 (sahn-ai)
Context: to order individual dishes from the menu instead of a set
In English: to order à la carte
Example: If we want to try more dishes, we should sahn-ai from the menu and share instead of ordering set dinners.
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3. Eat up the scraps: 包底 baau1 dai2 (bao-dai)
Context: to help others at the table eat the remaining food on their plates. Outside the context of dining, the phrase can also be used when helping others pay their bills.
In English: to finish off the dish; to eat up the scraps; to clean the plate
Example: Tom hates wasting leftover food, so he is always the one to bao-dai when we eat out with our friends.
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4. A romantic meal: 橕枱腳 caang1 toi4 goek3 (chaang-toy-gerk)
Context: The phrase was first used to describe a couple sitting on opposite ends of a table during a romantic meal, but now it can describe any two people who are eating together.
In English: to have a romantic meal; to eat out with one other person
Example: This Friday is my parents’ anniversary, and they plan to chaang-toy-gerk at a high-end restaurant to celebrate their special day.
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5. Eat dessert: 食糖水 sik6 tong4 seoi2 (sik-tong-sui)
Context: Although the phrase tong-sui refers to Cantonese desserts – sweet soups made with beans, milk and fruits – the phrase can also refer to any type of dessert.
In English: to eat dessert; to have Cantonese dessert
Example: There is a famous dessert shop in Mong Kok – let’s go sik-tong-sui there after dinner.