jyu4 song3 haau2 bei2如喪考妣如丧考妣

Jyutpingjyu4 song3 haau2 bei2

Yaleyùh song háau béi

Definition

Extremely anxious, grief-stricken, or upset, as if one's own parents had just passed away.

writtenemotionpeople

How it's used

This idiom carries a strong sense of exaggeration and is often used to mock someone for being overly dramatic or inconsolable about a relatively minor setback. It is rarely used in a literal sense to describe actual grief and instead functions as a biting critique of someone's disproportionate emotional reaction. Because of the heavy cultural weight of filial piety, using this phrase implies that the person's behavior is absurdly intense.

Examples

keoi5佢syu1輸zo2咗cin2錢zi1之hau6後jyu4如song3喪haau2考妣bei2咁gam3樣。

He acted as if his parents had died after losing money.

sai2使m4唔sai2使jyu4如song3喪haau2考妣bei2呀？aa4只zi2係hai6遲ci4到dou3啫。

Is it necessary to be that devastated? It is just being late.

Common phrases

jyu4如song3喪haau2考妣bei2咁gam3樣

acting as if one's parents had passed away

Common mistake

Avoid using this to describe genuine mourning, as it is almost exclusively used in a sarcastic or critical way to highlight someone's overreaction. Using it to describe someone who is truly grieving would be seen as highly offensive and insensitive.