zi6 so1自梳
Jyutpingzi6 so1
Yalejih sō
Definition
To vow to remain single for life, a historical Chinese custom where a woman combed her own hair into a married style.
colloquialpeopleother
How it's used
This term refers to a specific historical practice where women took a vow of celibacy and independence. It is strictly tied to the cultural context of the Pearl River Delta, particularly among silk workers who sought to avoid the traditional constraints of marriage. The act of combing one's hair into a bun was a symbolic rejection of the patriarchal family structure.
Examples
She decided to stay single back then and did not want to get married.
I heard that girls who chose to stay single back then had to hold a ceremony.
Related words
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with simply being single by choice in a modern context. It implies a formal, often lifelong commitment that was socially recognized in historical communities.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
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.
