haang4 sin1 jat1 bou6行先一步
Jyutpinghaang4 sin1 jat1 bou6
Yalehàahng sīn yāt bouh
Definition
To pass away before someone else does.
colloquialpeopleemotion
How it's used
This phrase serves as a euphemism to avoid the bluntness of discussing death directly. It frames the act of dying as simply leaving a shared journey or space ahead of others. It is often used by elderly people when speaking to their spouse or children to prepare them for the inevitable.
Examples
I am getting old, I might pass away before you.
Related words
Common phrases
afraid of passing away first
Common mistake
Do not use this phrase to mean leaving a physical location early, as that would be confusing and potentially morbid. Use 走先 or 行先 instead if you simply mean departing from a place before someone else.
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.
