heoi3 sai3去世
Jyutpingheoi3 sai3
Yaleheui sai
Definition
To pass away; to die; to leave the world.
neutralpeople
How it's used
This term is a formal and euphemistic way to refer to death, functioning similarly to the English phrase "to pass away." It is the standard choice for news reports, obituaries, or respectful conversations about someone who has died. In casual, everyday speech, people often prefer more direct or blunt terms like 死 or 走咗.
Examples
His grandfather passed away last month.
Related words
Common phrases
unfortunately passed away
passed away due to illness
Common mistake
Avoid using this term to describe the death of animals, as it is reserved exclusively for humans. Using it for a pet can sound overly dramatic or unintentionally humorous.
Grammar color guide
Noun
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Adjective
Adverb
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Classifier
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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).
