hang4 zoeng1 zau6 muk6行將就木行将就木
Jyutpinghang4 zoeng1 zau6 muk6
Yalehàhng jēung jauh muhk
Definition
With one foot in the grave; near death due to old age or illness.
writtenpeoplehealth
How it's used
Carries a very heavy and somber tone, often used to describe someone who is severely ill or at an extremely advanced age. It is a formal idiom that sounds quite dramatic in spoken Cantonese, so it is rarely used in casual conversation unless the speaker wants to emphasize the gravity of the situation. Using it to describe someone who is merely old can sound disrespectful or cruel.
Examples
He is already with one foot in the grave, why would he care about such trivial matters?
ji1醫sang1生waa6話keoi5佢ji5已ging1經hang4行zoeng1將zau6就muk6木，giu3叫uk1屋kei2企jan4人zou6做hou2好sam1心lei5理zeon2準bei6備。
The doctor said he is nearing the end of his life and told the family to prepare themselves.
Related words
Common phrases
an elderly person with one foot in the grave
Common mistake
Learners often mistake this for a general way to say someone is old, but it specifically implies that death is imminent. Avoid using it to describe someone who is simply elderly but in good health.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- 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.
- Possession (嘅)How to say my, your, and his, and how to link a describing word to a noun, all with the little word 嘅 (ge3).
