喫 = drink
茶 = tea
去 = leave
“Drink tea and leave”?
Not exactly.
The intention of this 3-character idiom isn’t to tell someone to go away after they’ve drunk some tea, but rather to welcome all guests to have a cup of tea before they leave.
This idiom comes from a Chinese Zen monk who gave this same instruction to any visiting monk, no matter who they were, regardless of whether they were a first time or a regular visitor.
The message is that we should serve tea with the same attitude to anyone, regardless of who they are and what the circumstances are.
It is a reminder to behave with integrity and treat every situation with respect.
Calligraphy by Vicky 