haang4 lai5行禮行礼
Jyutpinghaang4 lai5
Yalehàahng láih
Definition
To salute or bow as a gesture of respect; to conduct or hold a ceremony.
- to salute or bow to show respect
- to hold or conduct a ceremony, especially a wedding
neutraldaily actionspeople
How it's used
Refers specifically to formal gestures of respect, such as a military salute or a bow during a ceremony. It carries a strong sense of protocol and is rarely used for casual greetings between friends.
Examples
You should salute when you see the national flag, don't be so rude.
They are saluting on stage, the scene is very solemn.
Related words
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with the Mandarin usage where it can sometimes refer to the act of getting married, as in 行禮如儀. In Cantonese, it almost exclusively refers to the physical act of saluting or bowing as a sign of respect.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
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Grammar guides
- QuestionsFrom yes or no questions to asking who, what, where, and when. The patterns you need to ask questions naturally in Cantonese.
- ClassifiersCantonese puts a classifier between a number and a noun, and a bare classifier on its own can mean the. Learn the common ones and how to use them.
- ComparisonsHow to say bigger than, the most, the same as, and not as good as. Cantonese uses 過 where Mandarin uses 比, and that catches a lot of learners out.
