man5刎
Jyutpingman5
Yalemáhn
Definition
To cut one's own throat.
writtenbodyother
How it's used
This term is almost exclusively restricted to the context of suicide by cutting the throat. It carries a heavy, literary, and dramatic tone that is rarely used in casual conversation unless discussing historical figures or tragic events. It is far more common to use more direct descriptions of self-harm when speaking about modern situations.
Examples
He couldn't think straight for a moment and actually wanted to cut his own throat.
In ancient times, people who committed serious crimes often committed suicide by cutting their throats.
Related words
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with general verbs for cutting like 割, as 刎 specifically implies the throat area and carries a formal or archaic weight that makes it sound unnatural in everyday contexts.
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.
