din2 lai5典禮典礼
Jyutpingdin2 lai5
Yaledín láih
Definition
Ceremony; a formal ritual held to celebrate, commemorate, or mark an important occasion.
neutralschoolother
How it's used
Formal events in Hong Kong often use this term to describe official proceedings that follow a specific protocol. It carries a sense of gravity and structure that distinguishes it from a casual party or gathering. While it is a standard noun, it is almost exclusively reserved for significant, organized occasions like award presentations or commemorations.
Measure word
coeng4場chèunghExamples
Next week is the school's graduation ceremony.
Will you be attending that ceremony tomorrow?
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often confuse this with 儀式, which refers more broadly to the specific rituals or steps performed during an event. A 典禮 is the entire event itself, whereas 儀式 describes the procedural actions within it.
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.
