maai5 seoi2買水买水
Jyutpingmaai5 seoi2
Yalemáaih séui
Definition
To buy water; a traditional Chinese funeral ritual where the eldest son or relative symbolically buys water to wash the deceased's body.
colloquialother
How it's used
This term refers to a specific funerary rite where the eldest son symbolically purchases water from a nearby source to cleanse the deceased. It is deeply rooted in traditional filial piety, signifying the final act of care a child provides for their parent. In modern urban settings, the ritual is often simplified or performed by funeral staff, but the term remains a standard part of the vocabulary surrounding death rituals.
Examples
Dad has passed away, as the son, I must perform the ritual of buying water.
Do you know what needs to be prepared for the ritual of carrying the banner and buying water?
Related words
Common phrases
the combined funeral rites of carrying the banner and buying water
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with literally buying bottled water at a shop, as the context is strictly funerary. It is a ritualistic phrase rather than a description of a commercial transaction.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
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Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- LocationHow to say where something is using 喺 (hai2), place words like 度, and the common coverbs that work like English prepositions.
- Serial verbsStringing two or more verbs together without any joining word, like go to the shop buy things. Extremely common in Cantonese.
- 將 disposalHow to move the object in front of the verb with 將, to focus on what happens to it. Common in instructions and writing.
