ciu1 dou6超渡
Jyutpingciu1 dou6
Yalechīu douh
Definition
To release souls from purgatory; a Buddhist or Taoist ritual to pray for the dead to transmigrate.
neutralother
How it's used
Associated primarily with religious contexts, this term carries a solemn and respectful tone. It is specifically used in the context of funeral rites or ancestral worship to help a spirit move on to the next life. Outside of these formal rituals, it is sometimes used metaphorically in casual speech to mean getting rid of something troublesome or finishing off a difficult task, though this can sound slightly irreverent.
Examples
The master performed a rite to release the soul from purgatory.
Do you need to find someone to help with the rite for the deceased?
Related words
Common phrases
to release a soul from purgatory
a rite for the deceased
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with general prayers for the dead, as it specifically refers to the ritualistic act of guiding a soul to transmigration. Using it to describe simple mourning or grieving is incorrect.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
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Particle
Connector
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.
