jim4 lo4 wong4閻羅王阎罗王
Jyutpingjim4 lo4 wong4
Yaleyìhm lòh wòhng
Definition
Yama; the King of Hades and ruler of hell in Chinese mythology and folk belief.
colloquialpeopleother
How it's used
Often used in idiomatic expressions to refer to death or to mock someone who acts like they have absolute power over others. It carries a strong cultural weight from traditional folk religion and is frequently invoked in hyperbolic warnings about dangerous behavior. Using this term adds a dramatic, slightly dark flair to a sentence.
Measure word
wai6位waihExamples
He is playing with his life like that, he will be reporting to the King of Hades sooner or later.
Related words
Common phrases
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with generic ghosts or spirits, as it specifically refers to the deity in charge of the afterlife. It is not a term for a regular ghost or a malevolent spirit.
Grammar color guide
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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.
