git3 baai3結拜结拜
Jyutpinggit3 baai3
Yalegit baai
Definition
To formally declare a union, such as becoming sworn brothers, sworn sisters, or spouses.
colloquialpeoplefamily
How it's used
Refers specifically to a formal, often ritualistic, commitment to treat non-biological relations as family. It carries a sense of traditional loyalty and mutual obligation that goes beyond casual friendship. While historically involving ceremonies like drinking blood or burning incense, it is now often used more loosely to describe very close, lifelong platonic bonds.
Examples
They swore to be brothers when they were young.
Are you guys really thinking of becoming sworn sisters?
Related words
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with simply becoming friends or colleagues. It implies a serious, quasi-familial status that is not used for casual social acquaintances.
Grammar color guide
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Verb
Adjective
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Grammar guides
- LocationHow to say where something is using 喺 (hai2), place words like 度, and the common coverbs that work like English prepositions.
- Serial verbsStringing two or more verbs together without any joining word, like go to the shop buy things. Extremely common in Cantonese.
- 將 disposalHow to move the object in front of the verb with 將, to focus on what happens to it. Common in instructions and writing.
