diu3弔吊
Jyutpingdiu3
Yalediu
Definition
To mourn, condole, or express condolences for the deceased.
neutralpeopleother
How it's used
This term is strictly reserved for formal contexts involving death and mourning. It carries a solemn weight and is almost exclusively used in the compound form 弔唁 when referring to the act of visiting a funeral or paying respects to the deceased. Using it outside of this specific funerary context is inappropriate.
Examples
They went to the funeral hall to pay their respects.
Will you go to pay your respects tomorrow?
Related words
Common phrases
to pay respects to the deceased
Common mistake
Learners often confuse this with 吊, which shares the same pronunciation but means to hang or suspend. Ensure you use the correct character with the bow radical when discussing mourning to avoid offensive confusion.
Grammar color guide
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Grammar guides
- TonesCantonese has six tones, and the tones can change in certain grammatical contexts. Learn the six tones and the rules for tone change.
- Time and datesClock time, days of the week, months, and years. The patterns you need to make plans and talk about when things happen.
- Modal verbsHow to say can, will, may, should, must, and want. The core modal verbs of Cantonese and the differences that trip up beginners.
