wai4闈闱
Jyutpingwai4
Yalewàih
Definition
The door to women's quarters; living quarters.
writtenhomepeople
How it's used
This term is almost exclusively used in the context of historical settings or literary descriptions of a woman's private living space. It carries a strong sense of traditional seclusion and privacy that is rarely applied to modern bedrooms. You will mostly encounter it in period dramas or historical novels.
Related words
Common mistake
Do not use this to describe a standard modern bedroom, as it implies a level of traditional gendered seclusion that sounds bizarre in a contemporary context.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- NegationHow to say no, not, didn't, and don't in Cantonese. The four main negation words and when to use each one.
- Numbers and moneyCounting, talking about money, and asking how much things cost. Includes the two words for two and the everyday words for dollars and cents.
- Aspect markersCantonese has no tenses, but it does have aspect markers. Learn how zo2, gwo3, gan2, and hai2 dou6 show completion, experience, and ongoing action.
