maai4 gaai1 jam2 zeng2 seoi2埋街飲井水埋街饮井水
Jyutpingmaai4 gaai1 jam2 zeng2 seoi2
Yalemàaih gāai yám jéng séui
Definition
To get married, especially for a female sex worker or a boat dweller moving to a life on dry land.
colloquialpeoplehome
How it's used
This idiom carries a strong historical connotation rooted in the lives of boat dwellers who would transition to land life upon marriage. It implies a sense of stability and ending a wandering or precarious lifestyle. While it can be used for anyone settling down, it often retains a slightly old fashioned or metaphorical flavor that highlights the contrast between a transient past and a secure future.
Examples
She finally settled down and got married, finding a good home.
Related words
Common phrases
finally settle down and get married
Common mistake
Do not use this phrase to describe simply moving house or changing jobs, as it specifically refers to the life transition of getting married and establishing a permanent home. Using it for minor life changes can sound confusing or overly dramatic.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
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.
