maai6 haam4 jyu4賣鹹魚卖咸鱼

Jyutpingmaai6 haam4 jyu4

Yalemaaih hàahm yùh

Definition

To die

slangpeopleslang

How it's used

This is a dark, humorous euphemism for death that draws a parallel between a stiff, lifeless corpse and a piece of dried, salted fish. It carries a cynical or irreverent tone and should be avoided in formal or respectful settings like funerals. It is strictly used for humans and never for pets or other living things.

Examples

teng1聽gong2講gaak3隔lei4籬uk1屋go2嗰go3個lou5老jan4人gaa1家maai6賣zo2咗haam4鹹jyu2魚laa3喇。

I heard the old person next door passed away.

nei5你zoi3再gam3咁joeng6樣wun6玩meng6命faat3法，ci4遲zou2早maai6賣haam4鹹jyu2魚㗎zaa3咋。

If you keep risking your life like that, you will die sooner or later.

Common phrases

maai6賣zo2咗haam4鹹jyu2魚

has passed away

Common mistake

Do not use this phrase to describe actual fish or food products, as it will cause confusion or sound bizarre. It is exclusively a slang term for human death.