zaai1 gu1齋姑斋姑
Jyutpingzaai1 gu1
Yalejāai gū
Definition
A lay Buddhist nun or female vegetarian recluse who has taken vows without shaving her head.
colloquialpeopleother
How it's used
Refers specifically to laywomen who have taken Buddhist vows but continue to live in the secular world rather than a monastery. It carries a slightly traditional or old fashioned nuance, often associated with older generations in Hong Kong. While it describes a religious status, it is sometimes used in casual conversation to describe women who dress in simple, modest, or plain clothing.
Measure word
go3個goExamples
That vegetarian recluse often goes to the temple to help out.
Related words
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with a fully ordained nun, who is referred to as 尼姑. The distinction lies in the monastic status and the shaving of the head, which 齋姑 do not undergo.
Grammar color guide
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Grammar guides
- QuestionsFrom yes or no questions to asking who, what, where, and when. The patterns you need to ask questions naturally in Cantonese.
- ClassifiersCantonese puts a classifier between a number and a noun, and a bare classifier on its own can mean the. Learn the common ones and how to use them.
- ComparisonsHow to say bigger than, the most, the same as, and not as good as. Cantonese uses 過 where Mandarin uses 比, and that catches a lot of learners out.
