coi2 ceng1采青
Jyutpingcoi2 ceng1
Yalechói chēng
Definition
Plucking the greens; a traditional lion dance ritual of retrieving green vegetables to symbolize wealth.
colloquialfestivaldaily actions
How it's used
The term relies on the homophonic relationship between 生菜, which is the vegetable used, and 生財, meaning to generate wealth. It is a highly ritualized performance where the lion must navigate obstacles to reach the prize, symbolizing the overcoming of challenges to achieve prosperity. You will primarily hear this during the Lunar New Year period or at grand openings of businesses.
Examples
The lion dance troupe is getting ready to perform the plucking of the greens.
Have you ever seen how people perform the plucking of the greens?
Related words
Common phrases
lion dance plucking of the greens
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.
