餐（動量詞）

Verbal Classifier: A Bout of

Level 4Sounds Like caan1

Verb + (一) + 餐 (caan1)

How It Works

The verbal classifier 餐 (caan1) is a highly colloquial feature of Cantonese. It functions similarly to the neutral counter 次 (ci3), but adds a layer of intensity and duration.

1. Intensity and Duration
Unlike simple counters, 餐 (caan1) implies the action was performed thoroughly or at length. While it can mean doing something 'to one's heart's content' (like 喊一餐 haam3 jat1 caan1 - having a 'good cry'), it is very frequently used for intense, unpleasant, or adversarial events. For example, 俾人鬧一餐 (bei2 jan4 naau6 jat1 caan1) means getting a 'thorough scolding.'

2. Structure and Aspect
It typically follows the pattern: Verb + (一) + 餐. The numeral 一 (jat1) is often included but can be dropped in fast speech. It is very frequently paired with the perfective marker 咗 (zo2) to describe a completed bout of activity.

3. Resultative Extension
A common advanced variation is the Verb + 餐 + Adjective pattern. Common examples include 喊餐飽 (haam3 caan1 baau2), crying until one is 'full' (exhausted), or 忙餐死 (mong4 caan1 sei2), being busy 'to death.' CRITICAL: In this specific resultative pattern, the numeral 一 (jat1) cannot be used.

4. Register
This is strictly colloquial. In formal writing, you would use the neutral 次 (ci3) or the more formal 番 (faan1) (e.g., 思考一番 si1 haau2 jat1 faan1 - to have a bout of reflection) to express a similar 'spell' or 'bout' of action.

Examples (4)

  1. 尋晚我好唔開心，匿喺房入面喊咗一餐。

    I was very unhappy last night; I hid in my room and had a good cry.

    Word by Word: Last night I very not happy, hide at room inside cry [perfective] one bout.

    Here, 喊咗一餐 (haam3 zo2 jat1 caan1) emphasizes the duration and emotional release of the crying session.

  2. 佢做錯嘢，俾老細大聲鬧咗一餐。

    He did something wrong and got a thorough scolding from the boss.

    Word by Word: He do wrong thing, by boss loud voice scold [perfective] one bout.

    In a negative context, 鬧一餐 (naau6 jat1 caan1) implies the scolding was lengthy and severe.

  3. 呢排公司好多嘢做，忙餐死呀！

    There is so much work at the company lately, I'm busy to death!

    Word by Word: This period company many thing do, busy bout death [particle]!

    This uses the resultative extension. Note that when the adjective 死 (sei2) is added, the numeral 一 (jat1) must be omitted.

  4. 琴日行咗成日街，攰到我返屋企瞓咗一餐好嘅。

    I walked all day yesterday, so I was so tired that I had a good long sleep when I got home.

    Word by Word: Yesterday walk [perfective] whole day street, tired until I return home sleep [perfective] one bout good [possessive].

    瞓一餐 (fan3 jat1 caan1) describes a satisfying, deep bout of sleep.

Common Mistakes

  • Including the numeral '一' (jat1) when using a resultative adjective.

    我忙一餐死。
    我忙餐死。

    While '一' is common in the basic 'Verb + 一餐' pattern, it must be omitted in the resultative construction 'Verb + 餐 + Adjective' (like 忙餐死 mong4 caan1 sei2 or 喊餐飽 haam3 caan1 baau2).

  • Thinking 一餐 only ever means one meal.

    Different Meaning我今日食咗一餐。
    我今日玩咗一餐。

    我今日食咗一餐 is fine: 餐 (caan1) is the classifier for meals, so it means one meal. As a verbal classifier it can also mean a 'bout' of any activity, as in 玩咗一餐, a long, thorough play session.

  • Using it for brief, instantaneous actions.

    佢跳咗一餐。
    佢跳咗一下。

    餐 (caan1) implies duration and intensity. For a single, quick movement, use 下 (haa5) instead.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

餐（動量詞）Level 4Verbal Classifier: A Bout of

Learn This First

To understand '餐' as a verbal classifier, you first need to be familiar with how Cantonese uses classifiers to measure actions (like '次'). You should also understand basic word order for classifiers and how they interact with aspect markers like '咗' in a sentence.

Words in This Pattern