gat1 lei6吉利
Jyutpinggat1 lei6
Yalegāt leih
Definition
Lucky, auspicious, or propitious.
colloquialother
How it's used
Refers specifically to things that bring good omens or positive vibes, often tied to traditional customs or homophones. Unlike the more general term 好運 which describes a state of having good luck, 吉利 focuses on the quality of an object, name, or event being inherently favorable. It is frequently used during festive periods like Lunar New Year when people are conscious of choosing words and items that attract prosperity.
Examples
This name is very auspicious, it sounds very pleasant.
Buy some lucky things to put around the house for the New Year.
Related words
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with 幸運, which is used for personal good fortune or chance. 吉利 is almost exclusively used for inanimate objects, names, or symbolic events that are considered auspicious by cultural standards.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
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Grammar guides
- Aspect markersCantonese has no tenses, but it does have aspect markers. Learn how zo2, gwo3, gan2, and hai2 dou6 show completion, experience, and ongoing action.
- 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.
