zyu1 mun4朱門朱门

Jyutpingzyu1 mun4

Yalejyū mùhn

Definition

Red-lacquered doors, referring to the homes of the wealthy or noble.

writtenplacespeople

How it's used

This term is heavily loaded with historical and literary connotations, specifically referencing the traditional red-painted doors of elite, aristocratic households in imperial China. It is rarely used in modern, casual conversation to describe actual doors, but rather serves as a metonym for the wealthy or the ruling class. The most common encounter for a learner is through the famous classical couplet contrasting the excess of the rich with the suffering of the poor.

Examples

keoi5佢zyu6住喺hai2嗰go2間gaan1朱zyu1門mun4大daai6宅zaak6入jap6面。

He lives inside that grand mansion with vermilion gates.

zyu1朱mun4門zau2酒juk6肉cau3臭，lou6路jau5有dung3凍sei2死gwat1骨。

Behind the vermilion gates, wine and meat go to waste, while on the road lie the bones of the frozen dead.

Common phrases

zyu1朱mun4門zau2酒juk6肉

the luxury and excess of the wealthy

Common mistake

Do not use this to describe a modern red door on a house or a shop, as it will sound overly dramatic or archaic. Use 紅色嘅門 for a literal red door instead.