daai6 seon3 fung1大信封
Jyutpingdaai6 seon3 fung1
Yaledaaih seun fūng
Definition
A dismissal letter or notice of layoff.
colloquialwork
How it's used
Refers specifically to the act of being fired or receiving a termination notice, carrying a slightly informal and dramatic tone. It is a common metaphor in office culture where the physical envelope used to contain the termination notice is seen as a symbol of bad luck. People often use the verb 派 to describe the boss giving out these letters.
Measure word
go3個goExamples
He kept making mistakes at work and finally got fired.
Are you afraid of being given a dismissal letter by the boss?
Related words
Common phrases
to receive a dismissal letter
to fire someone
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with a literal large envelope used for mailing documents, as the context of employment is essential for the metaphorical meaning to be understood.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- 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.
- In 30 secondsThe whole language at a glance. No tenses, no plurals, six tones, sentence particles. Read this before you dive into any specific topic.
- ParticlesSentence particles add tone, emotion, and nuance. Learn the most common particles in Cantonese and how to use them.
