gaa3 bang1駕崩驾崩
Jyutpinggaa3 bang1
Yalega bāng
Definition
To pass away; used exclusively for the death of an emperor or sovereign.
writtenpeopleother
How it's used
Reserved exclusively for monarchs and emperors, this term carries a heavy sense of historical formality and reverence. It is never used for ordinary people, as doing so would be considered highly inappropriate or mocking. In modern contexts, it appears almost exclusively in historical dramas, literature, or when discussing dynasties.
Examples
I heard that the emperor passed away last night.
If the emperor passes away, who will inherit the throne?
Related words
Common phrases
the emperor passes away
Common mistake
Do not use this for anyone other than a sovereign. Using it to describe the death of a regular person or even a high-ranking official is seen as sarcastic or deeply disrespectful.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
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Grammar guides
- Directional complementsThe small words added after a verb to show direction of movement, like up, down, out, in, and back. Common in everyday Cantonese.
- DemonstrativesThis and that with 呢 and 嗰, the personal pronouns, and how 哋 turns I, you, and he into we, you all, and they.
- Resultative complementsSticking a result word onto a verb to show how it turned out, like eat until full or look and find. A productive everyday pattern.
