zang6 hing3贈慶赠慶
Definition
To join in the celebrations of an event; also used sarcastically to describe adding to someone's trouble.
- to participate in the celebration of a festive event
- figurativeto add to someone's trouble or misfortune, often sarcastically
How it's used
Originally referring to the act of bringing gifts to a celebration, this term has evolved to describe showing up to share in the joy of an event. It is frequently used in a lighthearted or teasing manner when someone arrives at a gathering, especially if they are expected to bring a celebratory mood or contribute to the festivities. While it implies participation, it can sometimes be used ironically if the person's presence is seen as adding to the chaos rather than the actual celebration.
Examples
Related words
Common phrases
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with simply giving a gift, as the focus is on the act of being present and participating in the atmosphere of the event. It is not used for formal business gift-giving.
Grammar color guide
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).
