wui4 wan4回魂
Jyutpingwui4 wan4
Yalewùih wàhn
Definition
The return of a deceased person's soul to their home on a specific day, in traditional folk beliefs.
colloquialother
How it's used
This term is deeply rooted in traditional Chinese funeral customs and folk beliefs. It refers specifically to the belief that the spirit of the deceased returns to their home on a set day after passing, often calculated based on the lunar calendar. It carries a solemn and respectful tone, and is rarely used in secular or casual contexts outside of these specific cultural practices.
Examples
Grandpa's soul returns tomorrow night, and the family will prepare meals in advance.
Related words
Common phrases
the night of the soul's return
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with the Mandarin term 回魂 which can sometimes be used metaphorically to describe someone regaining consciousness or coming back to their senses, as that usage is not standard in Cantonese.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
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).
