收sau1爐lou4

English

1. closing for the Lunar New Year holiday; literally "to put off the stove". The phrase originally referred to the closing of the kitchen. Before the Lunar New Year holidays, restaurants would put up a notice telling customers when they will close (收爐 sau1 lou4) and the date they will resume business. The usage has spread to other businesses beyond restaurants, and it is used to refer to closing for the Lunar New Year holiday for all businesses.

粵語 — Cantonese

1. 原本指廚房收工：酒樓會喺歲晚貼出告示，寫住廚房開工開到邊一日、放年假放到邊一日啓市；後來各行各業都跟咗呢個講法，用「收爐」去講過年前邊日收工。

Examples

• 本店年廿九收爐，初四啓市。

  We will be closed after the business hours of the 29th and will resume business on the 4th.