lei6 si5利市
Jyutpinglei6 si5
Yaleleih síh
Definition
Good luck, good fortune, or business profits.
colloquialfestivalmoney
How it's used
Refers specifically to the red envelope containing money given during Lunar New Year or special occasions like weddings. While the literal meaning relates to good luck or profit, the term is almost exclusively used to describe the physical red packet itself. It is common to use the verb 派 when talking about giving them out.
Measure word
fung1封fūngExamples
Giving out red packets during Chinese New Year is a tradition.
Related words
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with the Mandarin term 紅包, which is understood but sounds unnatural in a local Cantonese context. Also, ensure you use the correct measure word 封 when counting them.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
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).
