gaa3 zong1嫁妝嫁妆
Jyutpinggaa3 zong1
Yalega jōng
Definition
Dowry or trousseau; items, often valuable jewelry, that a bride brings to her husband's family.
colloquialfamilymoney
How it's used
Traditionally, this refers to the items a bride brings to her new home, often serving as a form of financial security or a display of her family's social status. While modern couples may focus less on traditional items like gold jewelry, the term remains deeply embedded in wedding customs and discussions regarding family wealth. It is specifically tied to the bride's side of the family providing these assets.
Measure word
fan2份fánExamples
Her family gave her a lot of gold jewelry as a dowry.
Do you know how much of a dowry she brought to the groom's family?
Related words
Common mistake
Learners sometimes confuse this with the general term for a gift or present. Remember that this is exclusively used for the specific context of a bride's dowry and cannot be used for birthday or holiday gifts.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
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.
