ming6 mak6命脈命脉
Jyutpingming6 mak6
Yalemihng mahk
Definition
Lifeline, vitals, or the most critical part affecting survival and development.
neutralworkother
How it's used
Focuses on the essential, life-sustaining core of an entity, often used in economic or strategic contexts. It carries a sense of gravity and indispensability that goes beyond simple importance. You will frequently hear it used to describe the critical infrastructure or key assets that keep a business or a city functioning.
Examples
The lifeblood of this company depends on those few big clients.
Water resources are the lifeblood of urban development and cannot be used recklessly.
Related words
Common mistake
Avoid using this to describe a person's literal physical health or vital organs, as it is almost exclusively used for abstract systems, organizations, or resources.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- Aspect markersCantonese has no tenses, but it does have aspect markers. Learn how zo2, gwo3, gan2, and hai2 dou6 show completion, experience, and ongoing action.
- In 30 secondsThe whole language at a glance. No tenses, no plurals, six tones, sentence particles. Read this before you dive into any specific topic.
- ParticlesSentence particles add tone, emotion, and nuance. Learn the most common particles in Cantonese and how to use them.
