fun1 ji1 gaai2 daai3寬衣解帶宽衣解带
Jyutpingfun1 ji1 gaai2 daai3
Yalefūn yī gáai daai
Definition
To undress or take off one's clothes.
colloquialclothingdaily actions
How it's used
This idiom is derived from classical Chinese literature and carries a distinct literary or slightly dramatic flair when used in modern Cantonese. While it literally means to loosen clothes and untie the belt, it is often used humorously or sarcastically in daily speech to describe someone undressing. Using it in a serious, everyday context can sound overly formal or even theatrical.
Examples
The first thing he does when he gets home is to take off his clothes.
Related words
Common phrases
to undress in public
Common mistake
Avoid using this in professional or casual settings where you simply mean to change clothes, as it can sound like you are making a joke or referencing a period drama. For standard situations, use the much more common 除衫 instead.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
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Grammar guides
- 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.
- Possession (嘅)How to say my, your, and his, and how to link a describing word to a noun, all with the little word 嘅 (ge3).
