baai3 saan1拜山

Jyutpingbaai3 saan1

Yalebaai sāan

動詞Common

Definition

To visit and pay respects at the graves of ancestors or deceased relatives.

colloquialfamilyfestival

How it's used

Refers specifically to the act of visiting ancestral graves to pay respects, often involving clearing weeds and offering food or incense. While the term literally translates to worshipping the mountain, it is the standard way to describe this cultural practice in Hong Kong. It is deeply tied to the filial piety expected of family members during major festivals.

Examples

cing1清ming4明zit3節go2嗰zan6陣，nei5你dei6哋jau5有mou5冇heoi3去baai3拜saan1山aa3呀？

Did you go visit the graves during the Ching Ming festival?

gam1今nin4年baai3拜saan1山di1啲lou6路hou2好sak1塞，gaau2搞dou3到hou2好aan3晏sin1先faan1返dou3到uk1屋kei2企。

The roads were very congested during the grave visits this year, so I got home very late.

Common phrases

heoi3去baai3拜saan1山

to go grave sweeping

baai3拜saan1山jung6用ban2品

supplies for grave sweeping

Common mistake

Do not confuse this with general hiking or mountain climbing, as the term is strictly reserved for ancestral worship. Using it to describe a casual hike would be highly inappropriate and potentially offensive to those who take the custom seriously.