can3 dei6 nam4趁地腍
Jyutpingcan3 dei6 nam4
Yalechan deih nàhm
Definition
To die soon; to drop dead (used as an insult).
slangpeopleslang
How it's used
This is a highly aggressive and offensive insult used to tell someone to die immediately. The imagery refers to the ground being soft enough to dig a grave easily, implying the person is so worthless that the speaker wants them buried without delay. It is strictly reserved for intense arguments or deep contempt and should never be used in casual settings.
Examples
If you love causing trouble so much, why don't you just drop dead?
He is always lying to people; it wouldn't be a pity even if he died right now.
Related words
Common phrases
to tell someone to drop dead
Common mistake
Learners often mistake this for a literal suggestion about gardening or construction because of the word 腍. It is exclusively an idiom for cursing someone and will be perceived as a severe verbal attack rather than a confusing or funny phrase.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- QuestionsFrom yes or no questions to asking who, what, where, and when. The patterns you need to ask questions naturally in Cantonese.
- ClassifiersCantonese puts a classifier between a number and a noun, and a bare classifier on its own can mean the. Learn the common ones and how to use them.
- ComparisonsHow to say bigger than, the most, the same as, and not as good as. Cantonese uses 過 where Mandarin uses 比, and that catches a lot of learners out.
