daai6 naan6 bat1 sei2大難不死大难不死
Jyutpingdaai6 naan6 bat1 sei2
Yaledaaih naahn bāt séi
Definition
To survive a great disaster or a near-death experience.
neutralpeopleemotion
How it's used
This idiom carries a sense of relief and often implies that the survivor has been spared by fate. It is frequently paired with the second half of the proverb, 必有後福, to offer comfort or encouragement to someone who has just narrowly escaped a dangerous situation. Unlike standard verbs, it functions as a descriptive state of being after a traumatic event.
Examples
He survived the disaster this time, he's really lucky.
Now that you've survived this disaster, what do you plan to do next?
Related words
Common phrases
He who survives a great disaster is bound for good fortune.
Common mistake
Learners often mistake this for a general term for surviving any minor illness or accident, but it is specifically reserved for major, life-threatening disasters or catastrophes.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
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.
