m4 hai2 dou6唔喺度
Jyutpingm4 hai2 dou6
Yalem̀h hái douh
Definition
Not present or not here; also used as a euphemism for having passed away.
- not present; not here; not around
- figurativeto pass away; to die
colloquialpeopledaily actions
How it's used
Beyond its literal meaning of physical absence, this phrase is frequently used as a gentle, indirect way to refer to someone who has passed away. It avoids the harshness of death-related terms by framing the person as simply no longer being present in this world. It is a common social convention to use this phrasing when breaking bad news or speaking about the deceased in a respectful manner.
Examples
He is not here right now, please leave your phone number.
Who are you looking for? He is not around today.
Related words
Common phrases
the person is not present
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with 唔喺嗰度, which specifically means not at that location over there. 唔喺度 is used to describe someone's general absence from a place where they are expected to be, regardless of the specific location.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
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.
