duk6 sang1獨生独生

Jyutpingduk6 sang1

Yaleduhk sāng

動詞Rare

Definition

To struggle on and survive alone, especially after a great tragedy.

colloquialpeopleemotion

How it's used

This term carries a heavy, somber tone often associated with tragedy, loss, or the aftermath of a disaster. It emphasizes the emotional burden of being the sole survivor when others have perished. Unlike standard verbs, it is rarely used in casual conversation and is reserved for serious discussions about life, death, and existential loneliness.

Examples

cyun4全gaa1家jan4人dou1都zau2走saai3晒，zing6淨dai1低keoi5佢jat1一go3個duk6獨sang1生。

The whole family is gone, leaving only him to survive alone.

nei5你gok3覺dak1得duk6獨sang1生lok6落heoi3去，zan1真hai6係wui2會jau5有zoeng1將loi4來me1咩？

Do you really think there is a future in just surviving alone like this?

Common phrases

duk6獨sang1生lok6落heoi3去

to continue surviving alone

Common mistake

Do not confuse this with 獨生女 or 獨生子, which refer to being an only child. In those contexts, 獨生 is an adjective describing family status, whereas here it functions as a verb describing the act of surviving in isolation.