gau6 lik6舊歷旧历
Jyutpinggau6 lik6
Yalegauh lihk
Definition
The traditional Chinese lunar calendar.
colloquialtime
How it's used
Refers specifically to the traditional Chinese calendar used for calculating festivals and birthdays. While the term is widely understood, many younger speakers prefer the term 農曆 when speaking about the calendar system itself. Using 舊歷 often carries a slightly more nostalgic or traditional nuance compared to the more neutral and common 農曆.
Examples
When is your lunar birthday this year?
Related words
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with the term 舊曆年, which is a common way to refer to the Lunar New Year. Also, be aware that while 舊 means old, it does not imply the calendar is obsolete, just that it follows the traditional system.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
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.



