味

Classifier for Dishes and Herbs

Level 4Sounds Like mei6

The classifier 味 (mei6-2) is used to count different dishes in a meal or ingredients in a prescription. In culinary contexts, it usually undergoes a tone change to the high-rising Tone 2.

How It Works

1. Culinary Usage (Dishes)
When counting the number of different dishes served in a meal, Cantonese uses 味. Crucially, in this context, the tone shifts from Tone 6 (mei6) to Tone 2 (mei6-2). This tone change (pin3 jam1) results in a 'low-to-high rising' sound.

  • 一味餸 (jat1 mei6-2 sung3): One dish.
  • 味味 (mei6-2 mei6-2): Every single dish (reduplication).

Unlike 個 (go3) or 碟 (dip6), 味 emphasizes the variety or the recipe itself.

2. Traditional Chinese Medicine (Herbs)
In a medical context, 味 is used to count the individual herbal ingredients in a prescription. In this technical register, it often retains its original Tone 6 (mei6).

3. Adverbial Usage: 'Constantly'
The phrase 一味 (jat1 mei6) functions as an adverb meaning 'constantly', 'blindly', or 'exclusively'. While traditionally Tone 6, in modern spoken Cantonese it very frequently undergoes a tone change to Tone 2 (jat1 mei6-2). For example: 佢一味喺度食 (He is just constantly eating).

4. Colloquial 'Tricks', 'Hobbies', or 'Matters'
In casual speech, 味 (mei6-2) can classify abstract 'tricks,' 'habits,' or 'kinds of things,' often with a slightly colorful or skeptical nuance. It is also used to refer to specific hobbies or specialized interests.

  • 呢味嘢 (ni1 mei6-2 je5): This kind of thing / this trick.
  • 佢好呢味 (keoi5 hou2 ni1 mei6-2): He is really into this kind of thing (hobby/interest).

Examples (5)

  1. 我哋今晚煮咗四味餸。

    We cooked four [different] dishes tonight.

    Word by Word: We tonight cook [perfective] four [classifier] dish.

    Here, 味 (mei6-2) counts the number of distinct recipes or dishes prepared for the meal.

  2. 呢個藥方有十味藥。

    This prescription has ten [types of] medicinal herbs.

    Word by Word: This [classifier] prescription has ten [classifier] medicine.

    In medicine, 味 (mei6) counts the individual components of the formula. In this technical context, it often stays in Tone 6.

  3. 佢一味喺度話人，都唔反省吓自己。

    He is constantly criticizing others without reflecting on himself.

    Word by Word: He one-way at-here talk-about people, also not reflect [delimitative] self.

    When used as an adverb, 一味 (jat1 mei6 or jat1 mei6-2) means 'constantly' or 'blindly'. In modern speech, both Tone 6 and Tone 2 are common.

  4. 呢間餐廳味味餸都咁好食。

    Every single dish in this restaurant is so delicious.

    Word by Word: This [classifier] restaurant dish-dish dish all so good-eat.

    The reduplicated classifier 味味 (mei6-2 mei6-2) means 'every single dish'.

  5. 佢最叻就係呢味嘢。

    This [trick/hobby] is what he is best at.

    Word by Word: He most smart exactly is this [classifier] thing.

    In this colloquial sense, 味 (mei6-2) refers to a specific skill, hobby, or 'trick' the person has.

Common Mistakes

  • Counting dishes with 碟 when you mean kinds of dishes.

    Different Meaning我哋叫咗兩碟菜，但係嚟咗三碟。
    我哋叫咗兩味菜，但係嚟咗三碟。

    我哋叫咗兩碟菜，但係嚟咗三碟 is a fine sentence, but 碟 (dip6) counts plates. 味 (mei6) counts kinds of dishes. If you order two kinds of dish and three plates arrive, say 兩味菜 and 三碟.

  • Using the wrong tone (Tone 6) for food dishes.

    三味 (saam1 mei6)
    三味 (saam1 mei6-2)

    Using Tone 6 (mei6) makes it sound like you are saying 'three flavors.' For counting dishes, the high-rising Tone 2 (mei6-2) is the standard spoken form.

How It Connects

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

味Level 4Classifier for Dishes and Herbs

Learn This First

To understand '味' as a classifier, learners first need to be familiar with the basic Cantonese classifier system and the standard counting frame (Number + Classifier + Noun). Additionally, because this specific usage requires a tone change (pin3 jam1) from the standard 6th tone to the 2nd tone, knowledge of how tone changes function in Cantonese is necessary.

Words in This Pattern

味味