caak1 zi6測字测字
Jyutpingcaak1 zi6
Yalechāak jih
Definition
To practice literomancy, analyzing Chinese characters to tell fortunes.
colloquialother
How it's used
Literomancy involves analyzing the structure of a chosen character to provide insights into a person's fate or current situation. It is a niche form of divination often found in traditional street stalls or temple areas. Unlike general fortune telling, it requires the seeker to provide a specific character on the spot for the practitioner to interpret.
Examples
Master, I want to practice literomancy to ask about my future.
His literomancy is very accurate, many people are queuing up.
Related words
Common phrases
literomancy fortune telling
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with general fortune telling like 睇相 or 算命, as 測字 specifically requires the use of a written character as the medium for the reading.
Grammar color guide
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Grammar guides
- LocationHow to say where something is using 喺 (hai2), place words like 度, and the common coverbs that work like English prepositions.
- Serial verbsStringing two or more verbs together without any joining word, like go to the shop buy things. Extremely common in Cantonese.
- 將 disposalHow to move the object in front of the verb with 將, to focus on what happens to it. Common in instructions and writing.
