baai3 nin4拜年
Jyutpingbaai3 nin4
Yalebaai nìhn
Definition
To pay a New Year visit to relatives or friends during the Lunar New Year.
colloquialfestivaldaily actions
How it's used
This term carries a strong sense of social obligation and tradition, often involving the exchange of red packets known as 利是. It is specifically tied to the Lunar New Year period, typically starting from the first day and lasting until the fifteenth. The act implies more than just visiting, as it requires offering formal well wishes to elders or hosts.
Examples
Where do you plan to go for Lunar New Year visits this year?
I went to visit my relatives for the New Year on the second day.
Related words
Common phrases
to go for New Year visits
red packets given during New Year visits
Common mistake
Do not use this term for casual visits outside of the Lunar New Year season. For general social visits, use 探人 or 探訪 instead.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- Directional complementsThe small words added after a verb to show direction of movement, like up, down, out, in, and back. Common in everyday Cantonese.
- DemonstrativesThis and that with 呢 and 嗰, the personal pronouns, and how 哋 turns I, you, and he into we, you all, and they.
- Resultative complementsSticking a result word onto a verb to show how it turned out, like eat until full or look and find. A productive everyday pattern.
