婚禮
hun-lé
The Hokkien word for wedding is 婚禮 (hun-lé).
婚禮 is used to refer to a marriage ceremony.
Meaning: marriage ceremony (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The word is composed of 婚 (marriage) and 禮 (ceremony/ritual).
How does it change in a sentence?
To say 'to hold a wedding' or 'to have a wedding', use the verb 辦 (辦理) with the noun, resulting in 辦婚禮.
How do you pronounce it?
hun-lé
Did you know?
- In Hokkien culture, the color of the wedding is traditionally red, as white is strictly associated with funerals and would be considered a disaster at a 婚禮.
- Traditional Hokkien weddings involve a 'door game' ritual where the groom must pay a 'gate fee' in red envelopes to the bridesmaids before he can enter the house.
- The character 禮 in 婚禮 is also the root for the word 'politeness' or 'etiquette' in many contexts, linking the ceremony to social decorum.
Examples in context
- 這場婚禮真熱鬧。chiâⁿ bûn-lī chin jia̍t-náu.This wedding is very lively.
- 我袂去參加他的婚禮。guá bē khì tsham-ka i ê bûn-lī.I won't attend his wedding.
- 婚禮禮服真漂亮。bûn-lī lî-phù chin piàn-liāng.The wedding attire is very beautiful.
Example conversation
Two friends are talking about an upcoming event.
- 建宏 Kian-hong淑芬，你有收到婚禮邀請函嗎？Siu-hun, lí ū siū-kàu hnɡ-lé iau-tshing-hâm mä?Shufen, did you receive the wedding invitation?
- 淑芬 Siok-fun我有收到，婚禮在下個星期六。guá ū siū-kàu, hnɡ-lé tsai hē-kè sín-kì lau.I did, the wedding is next Saturday.
- 建宏 Kian-hong那我們一起去吧。na-lo̍k guá-lím it-kì khì-pa.Then let's go together.
- 淑芬 Siok-fun好，我也很期待這場婚禮。hó, guá ia̍h hen kî-tài che tshia hnɡ-lé.Okay, I am also looking forward to this wedding.
