tai2 daai6 hei3睇大戲睇大戏
Jyutpingtai2 daai6 hei3
Yaletái daaih hei
Definition
To watch Cantonese opera or Chinese opera.
colloquialfestivalpeople
How it's used
Refers specifically to Cantonese opera, which is a significant part of traditional local culture. It is often associated with outdoor bamboo theaters set up during festivals, known as 神功戲, rather than just formal indoor performances. While younger generations may not attend frequently, the term remains a well-known cultural marker.
Examples
Grandma really likes going to watch Chinese opera.
Are you free to go watch Chinese opera with me tonight yet?
Related words
Common phrases
go to watch Chinese opera
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with watching a movie or a play, which would simply be 睇戲. Using 睇大戲 for a modern cinema film sounds very strange and implies you are watching a traditional theatrical performance.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
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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).
