32.4 The Verbal Particle 埋 maai4 II (‘up’)

In Grammar and Vocabulary 23.6, we learned that the verbal particle 埋 maai4 can add the meaning of ‘as well’ to a sentence.

The verbal particle 埋 maai4 can also add the meaning of ‘up’ to the verb (as in to eat up the fried rice). When a task is incomplete and part of the task remains unfinished, we can use 埋 maai4 to indicate that the remaining part will be completed so that the whole task is completely finished. In the context of this lesson, part of a dish is not eaten. We use 埋 maai4 to indicate the remaining part can be eaten so that the whole dish is eaten up.