hoi1 min6開面开面
Jyutpinghoi1 min6
Yalehōi mihn
Definition
To paint a face in Cantonese opera, pluck facial hair in wedding rituals, or carve statue features.
- technicala face painting technique used for applying make-up in Cantonese opera
- a traditional wedding custom of plucking a bride's fine facial hair
- technicalthe curving and shaping of facial features on the statue of a deity
colloquialfestivaldaily actions
How it's used
Refers specifically to the traditional ritual of threading facial hair for a bride before her wedding, which is seen as a rite of passage into adulthood. Beyond the wedding context, it also describes the intricate process of painting a performer's face for Cantonese opera. The term implies a meticulous, transformative process that prepares someone for a significant new role or stage in life.
Examples
Tomorrow is her big day, she needs someone to help her with the facial threading.
Do you know how Cantonese opera actors apply their stage makeup?
Related words
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with general makeup application, as it specifically refers to the traditional threading technique or the specialized stage makeup process. Using it to describe everyday makeup application will sound unnatural to native speakers.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
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Classifier
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Grammar guides
- 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.
- Possession (嘅)How to say my, your, and his, and how to link a describing word to a noun, all with the little word 嘅 (ge3).
