gwai1 ning4歸寧归宁
Jyutpinggwai1 ning4
Yalegwāi nìhng
Definition
Of a married woman, to visit her maiden home or family.
neutralfamilyfestival
How it's used
Refers specifically to the traditional custom where a bride visits her parents' home shortly after the wedding. It carries a formal and cultural weight that distinguishes it from a casual visit to one's parents. While the concept is well-known, the term itself is often used in the context of wedding planning or formal discussions about post-wedding etiquette.
Examples
She is going back to her maiden family for the post-wedding visit tomorrow.
When are you going back to your maiden family for your post-wedding visit?
Related words
Common phrases
post-wedding banquet at the bride's family home
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with simply visiting parents, as it specifically implies the ritualized visit following a marriage. Using it for any random visit to one's parents will sound overly formal or even archaic.
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.
