ceoi4 zik6 je6除夕夜
Jyutpingceoi4 zik6 je6
Yalechèuih jihk yeh
Definition
New Year's Eve; the night of the last day of the lunar year.
neutralfestivaltime
How it's used
Refers specifically to the night before the Lunar New Year, rather than the Western December 31st. While the latter is often called 跨年夜 or simply 除夕 in some contexts, 除夕夜 in Cantonese almost exclusively points to the eve of the Chinese New Year. It carries a strong cultural emphasis on family reunions and the final meal before the new year begins.
Examples
Will you have dinner with your family on New Year's Eve?
There are many people counting down in Tsim Sha Tsui on New Year's Eve.
Related words
Common phrases
New Year's Eve countdown
New Year's Eve reunion
Common mistake
Learners often confuse this with the Western New Year's Eve, which is more commonly referred to as 跨年夜 in Hong Kong. Using this term for December 31st may cause confusion, as it is deeply tied to the Lunar calendar traditions.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
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Classifier
Particle
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Grammar guides
- NegationHow to say no, not, didn't, and don't in Cantonese. The four main negation words and when to use each one.
- Numbers and moneyCounting, talking about money, and asking how much things cost. Includes the two words for two and the everyday words for dollars and cents.
- Aspect markersCantonese has no tenses, but it does have aspect markers. Learn how zo2, gwo3, gan2, and hai2 dou6 show completion, experience, and ongoing action.
