fung6 zi2 sing4 fan1奉旨成婚
Jyutpingfung6 zi2 sing4 fan1
Yalefuhng jí sìhng fān
Definition
An arranged marriage, especially one ordered by royal decree or traditional authority.
colloquialpeoplefamily
How it's used
Originally referring to a marriage ordered by an imperial decree, this phrase is now used sarcastically or humorously to describe situations where a marriage feels forced or inevitable. It often carries a cynical undertone, implying that the couple might be marrying due to external pressure or an unplanned pregnancy rather than genuine romantic desire. It is rarely used in a formal or respectful context today.
Examples
Are they two having an arranged marriage?
Who still has arranged marriages nowadays?
Related words
Common phrases
by imperial order or by necessity
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with a standard, neutral term for arranged marriage, as it carries a strong sense of irony or social commentary. It is not a clinical or descriptive term for traditional matchmaking practices.
Grammar color guide
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Grammar guides
- Directional complementsThe small words added after a verb to show direction of movement, like up, down, out, in, and back. Common in everyday Cantonese.
- DemonstrativesThis and that with 呢 and 嗰, the personal pronouns, and how 哋 turns I, you, and he into we, you all, and they.
- Resultative complementsSticking a result word onto a verb to show how it turned out, like eat until full or look and find. A productive everyday pattern.
