zing1 zit3 paai4 fong1貞節牌坊贞节牌坊

Jyutpingzing1 zit3 paai4 fong1

Yalejīng jit pàaih fōng

名詞

Definition

An officially built memorial arch in honor of a chaste widow in ancient China.

colloquialpeopleother

How it's used

Modern usage almost exclusively refers to the metaphorical concept of hypocrisy where someone acts immorally while simultaneously trying to maintain a public image of virtue. It is frequently used in the idiom 又要做雞，又要攞貞節牌坊, which critiques people who want the benefits of a scandalous lifestyle while also demanding the social respectability of a saint. The term carries a heavy sense of irony and social judgment.

Measure word

go3個go

Examples

keoi5佢seng4成jat6日baan6扮hou2好jan4人，zan1真hai6係hou2好ci5似laap6立zing1貞zit3節paai4牌fong1坊gam3咁。

He always pretends to be a good person, just like someone trying to maintain a fake reputation.

nei5你zou6做zo2咗gam3咁do1多waai6壞si6事，zung6仲soeng2想lo2攞go3個zing1貞zit3節paai4牌fong1坊aa4呀？

You have done so many bad things, do you still want to claim moral superiority?

Common phrases

laap6立zing1貞zit3節paai4牌fong1坊

to set up a memorial arch (metaphorically: to feign virtue)

Common mistake

Do not use this term literally unless discussing historical architecture or specific cultural history, as it is almost always intended as a sharp insult in daily conversation.