daai6 kwai4 sin3大葵扇
Jyutpingdaai6 kwai4 sin3
Yaledaaih kwàih sin
Definition
Palm-leaf fan; also used as a metonymy for a matchmaker.
- palm-leaf fan
- figurativematchmaker
colloquialpeople
How it's used
Originating from the traditional image of a matchmaker carrying a large palm-leaf fan to hide their face or signal their role, this term is now used metaphorically for anyone who facilitates romantic connections. It carries a slightly playful or old-fashioned tone compared to the modern term 媒人. It is often used in the phrase 揸大葵扇 to describe the act of actively arranging dates or marriages.
Measure word
go3個goExamples
She is always playing matchmaker for others, she is basically a professional matchmaker.
Do you need to find a matchmaker to introduce someone to you?
Related words
Common phrases
to act as a matchmaker
Common mistake
Do not use this term to refer to a literal fan used for cooling oneself, as it is strictly reserved for the social role of a matchmaker. Using it to describe a physical object will cause confusion.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- QuestionsFrom yes or no questions to asking who, what, where, and when. The patterns you need to ask questions naturally in Cantonese.
- ClassifiersCantonese puts a classifier between a number and a noun, and a bare classifier on its own can mean the. Learn the common ones and how to use them.
- ComparisonsHow to say bigger than, the most, the same as, and not as good as. Cantonese uses 過 where Mandarin uses 比, and that catches a lot of learners out.
