daai6 hei3大戲大戏
Jyutpingdaai6 hei3
Yaledaaih hei
Definition
Traditional Chinese opera, especially Cantonese opera.
colloquialpeopleother
How it's used
Refers specifically to traditional Chinese opera performances, often those staged in temporary bamboo theaters known as 戲棚. While it can technically encompass various regional styles, in Hong Kong it is almost exclusively associated with 粵劇. It carries a slightly nostalgic or cultural weight, distinguishing it from modern theatrical performances or cinema.
Measure word
tou3套touExamples
Do you like watching traditional Chinese opera?
There is a traditional opera performance at the bamboo theater tonight.
Related words
Common phrases
to watch traditional Chinese opera
to perform traditional Chinese opera
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with 戲, which is a generic term for movies or plays. Using 大戲 to describe a modern film will sound very strange to native speakers.
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.
