ziu1 long4 jap6 se3招郎入舍
Jyutpingziu1 long4 jap6 se3
Yalejīu lòhng yahp se
Definition
To marry into the bride's family, with the husband becoming a member of her household.
colloquialfamilyother
How it's used
This phrase describes a traditional marriage arrangement where a man moves into his wife's household, often to continue the wife's family line or manage their property. It carries a historical weight that implies a reversal of the standard patrilocal norm in Chinese culture. While less common in modern urban Hong Kong, the term is still understood as a specific social arrangement rather than just living with in-laws.
Examples
They decided on matrilocal marriage and will live at her family's home from now on.
Related words
Common phrases
the custom of matrilocal marriage
Common mistake
Learners often confuse this with simply living with in-laws, but it specifically implies a formal change in family status and inheritance rights. It is not used for a man who just happens to live in his wife's house temporarily.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
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Grammar guides
- Aspect markersCantonese has no tenses, but it does have aspect markers. Learn how zo2, gwo3, gan2, and hai2 dou6 show completion, experience, and ongoing action.
- 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.



