kau4 cim1求簽求签
Jyutpingkau4 cim1
Yalekàuh chīm
Definition
To ask for an oracle by drawing fortune-telling sticks at a temple.
colloquialother
How it's used
Drawing these sticks involves shaking a bamboo container until one stick falls out, which corresponds to a specific numbered paper fortune. It is a deeply cultural activity often performed at temples like Wong Tai Sin to seek guidance on personal matters or the year ahead. The process is usually followed by interpreting the result with a temple master or reading the printed text on the fortune paper.
Examples
Many people go to Wong Tai Sin to draw fortune sticks during the New Year.
Have you been to a temple to draw fortune sticks this year?
Related words
Common phrases
Common mistake
Learners often confuse the act of drawing the stick with the act of interpreting it. Remember that 求簽 refers specifically to the physical act of shaking the container to get the stick, while interpreting the meaning is usually described as 解簽.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- NegationHow to say no, not, didn't, and don't in Cantonese. The four main negation words and when to use each one.
- Numbers and moneyCounting, talking about money, and asking how much things cost. Includes the two words for two and the everyday words for dollars and cents.
- 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.
