nin4 faa1年花
Jyutpingnin4 faa1
Yalenìhn fā
Definition
Decorative flowers bought for Lunar New Year to bring good fortune.
colloquialfestivalhome
How it's used
Choosing specific types of flowers is deeply rooted in Cantonese puns and auspicious meanings. For example, 水仙 is favored for its elegant scent and association with good fortune, while 桃花 is traditionally sought after by those hoping to improve their romantic prospects. It is common to visit the Lunar New Year Fair to handpick these plants just days before the festival begins.
Measure word
pun4盆pùnhExamples
What kind of Lunar New Year flowers did you buy for your home this year?
Related words
Common phrases
visiting the Lunar New Year fair to buy festive flowers
to display festive flowers
Common mistake
Do not confuse these with regular floral arrangements for gifts or funerals. Using the wrong type of flower or color during the New Year can be seen as bad luck, so people strictly stick to varieties that symbolize prosperity, longevity, or growth.
Grammar color guide
Noun
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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.
