gau3 meng6救命
Jyutpinggau3 meng6
Yalegau mehng
Definition
To save someone's life; to rescue someone in danger.
colloquialdaily actionsemotion
How it's used
Beyond its literal meaning of saving a life, this is frequently used as an interjection to express extreme distress, frustration, or being overwhelmed. It functions similarly to shouting "Help!" or "Oh my god!" when facing an impossible workload or a chaotic situation. It is common to hear people exclaim "救命呀" when they are stuck in a difficult predicament.
Examples
Come save him quickly, someone fell into the water!
I will never forget the kindness you showed when you saved my life.
Related words
Common phrases
the kindness of saving one's life
a straw to clutch at in a desperate situation
Common mistake
Avoid using this as a direct translation for the English verb "to rescue" in all contexts. While it works for saving a life, use 救 or 幫手 for general assistance or rescuing objects, as 救命 carries a heavy connotation of life or death.
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.
