daai3 haau3戴孝
Jyutpingdaai3 haau3
Yaledaai haau
Definition
To wear mourning clothes, traditionally made of hemp with a white hat, as a Chinese burial custom.
colloquialfamilyother
How it's used
Refers specifically to the traditional practice of wearing mourning attire, typically white or hemp-colored garments, to signify grief and respect for the deceased. While the literal act involves wearing specific items, the term is often used more broadly to describe the entire period of mourning for immediate family members. It carries a heavy, solemn tone and is deeply rooted in Confucian filial piety.
Examples
His family member passed away, so he has to observe mourning for a period.
Do you know when they need to start wearing mourning clothes?
Related words
Common phrases
to wear traditional hemp mourning clothes
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with general mourning or sadness. It specifically refers to the physical act of wearing mourning clothes or the formal observance of the mourning period, rather than just the internal feeling of grief.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
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Classifier
Particle
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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.
