deng1 zo2釘咗钉咗
Jyutpingdeng1 zo2
Yaledēng jó
Definition
Passed away; died.
colloquialpeopleslang
How it's used
Carries a very blunt and somewhat disrespectful tone, similar to saying someone 'kicked the bucket' in English. It is strictly colloquial and should be avoided in formal settings or when speaking to someone grieving. While it can be used for animals, using it for humans is often seen as callous or mocking.
Examples
I heard his grandfather passed away last month.
Related words
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with the literal meaning of 釘, which means to hammer a nail. Using it to describe a person's death is highly informal and can be offensive if used inappropriately.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
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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.
