gau6 lik6 nin4舊曆年旧历年
Jyutpinggau6 lik6 nin4
Yalegauh lihk nìhn
Definition
The Lunar New Year, or the Chinese lunar calendar.
- Lunar New Year; Chinese New Year
- the Chinese lunar calendar
colloquialfestivaltime
How it's used
While referring to the Lunar New Year, most locals prefer using 農曆年 or simply 過年 in daily conversation. Using 舊曆年 is perfectly understandable but can sound slightly more traditional or formal compared to the more common alternatives. It is often used when specifically contrasting the lunar calendar with the Gregorian calendar.
Examples
Will you go home for dinner during the Lunar New Year?
Many shops are closed during the Lunar New Year.
Related words
Common phrases
Lunar New Year holiday
to celebrate the Lunar New Year
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with the term 舊年, which simply means last year. Beginners often mishear or mispronounce these two, leading to confusion about whether someone is talking about a holiday or a time period.
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.
