gaai3 leot6戒律
Jyutpinggaai3 leot6
Yalegaai leuht
Definition
Monastic regulations, religious discipline, or strict rules that must not be broken within a group.
neutralother
How it's used
Refers specifically to formal codes of conduct within religious or monastic communities, carrying a much heavier weight than general rules. While it can be used metaphorically in secular contexts to describe strict self-discipline, it retains a serious, almost solemn tone. It implies a moral or spiritual obligation rather than just a social expectation.
Measure word
tiu4條tìuhExamples
They have to follow many monastic regulations after becoming monks.
Is this religious regulation something all practitioners must follow?
Related words
Common phrases
to observe religious regulations
to break a religious vow
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with general rules like 規矩 or 條例, as those are used in everyday social or legal settings. Using 戒律 for a simple house rule or office policy sounds overly dramatic or religious.
Grammar color guide
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Adjective
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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.
