gei1 duk1 gaau3基督教
Jyutpinggei1 duk1 gaau3
Yalegēi dūk gaau
Definition
Christianity, inclusive of all denominations; often used specifically to refer to Protestantism.
- Christianity; the religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus Christ
- Protestantism, as distinguished from Catholicism and Eastern Orthodoxy
neutralother
How it's used
Distinguishing between denominations is crucial in Hong Kong because 基督教 is almost exclusively used to refer to Protestantism. If you mean the Catholic Church, you must explicitly say 天主教. Using 基督教 to cover both is technically correct in a broad theological sense, but in daily life, it will be interpreted as Protestant.
Examples
Her whole family are Christians.
Do you know where there is a Protestant church?
Related words
Common phrases
Protestant church
to believe in Christianity
Common mistake
Avoid using 基督教 as a catch-all term for all Christians if you are speaking to a Catholic, as they will likely correct you to specify they are 天主教.
Grammar color guide
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Grammar guides
- Directional complementsThe small words added after a verb to show direction of movement, like up, down, out, in, and back. Common in everyday Cantonese.
- DemonstrativesThis and that with 呢 and 嗰, the personal pronouns, and how 哋 turns I, you, and he into we, you all, and they.
- Resultative complementsSticking a result word onto a verb to show how it turned out, like eat until full or look and find. A productive everyday pattern.
