pei1 maa4 daai3 haau3披麻戴孝
Jyutpingpei1 maa4 daai3 haau3
Yalepēi màh daai haau
Definition
To wear sackcloth and go into mourning for the death of a parent or close relative.
colloquialpeopleother
How it's used
This idiom describes the traditional practice of wearing coarse, unhemmed white garments during a funeral period. While the literal practice is rarely seen in modern urban settings, the phrase is still used metaphorically or to describe someone appearing in full traditional mourning attire. It carries a heavy, somber tone and is strictly reserved for the context of bereavement.
Examples
Their whole family is in mourning clothes, they look very sad.
Why is he walking in wearing mourning clothes?
Related words
Common phrases
the look of being in mourning clothes
Common mistake
Do not use this phrase to describe someone wearing plain white clothes in a casual or fashion context, as it specifically implies a funeral setting and carries significant cultural weight regarding death.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
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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.
