zi2 zaat3 gung1 zai2紙紮公仔纸扎公仔
Jyutpingzi2 zaat3 gung1 zai2
Yalejí jaat gūng jái
Definition
Paper effigy or doll used in traditional Chinese rituals and worship.
colloquialother
How it's used
These items are exclusively associated with funerary rites or ancestral worship. They are crafted to represent servants, companions, or deities intended to accompany the deceased in the afterlife. Because of their specific cultural function, they are never used as toys or decorative items in a secular context.
Measure word
go3個goExamples
These paper dolls are made very exquisitely.
Related words
Common phrases
to burn paper dolls
Common mistake
Avoid using the term for actual children's toys, as it carries a strong association with death and rituals. Referring to a child's paper toy as a 紙紮公仔 would be considered highly inappropriate and potentially offensive.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- TonesCantonese has six tones, and the tones can change in certain grammatical contexts. Learn the six tones and the rules for tone change.
- Time and datesClock time, days of the week, months, and years. The patterns you need to make plans and talk about when things happen.
- Modal verbsHow to say can, will, may, should, must, and want. The core modal verbs of Cantonese and the differences that trip up beginners.
