mong1亡
Jyutpingmong1
Yalemōng
Definition
To die, perish, or lose one's life.
writtenother
How it's used
Functions primarily as a formal or literary morpheme rather than a standalone verb in everyday speech. It often appears in compound words related to death, destruction, or loss, such as 死亡 or 亡國. You will rarely hear it used in casual conversation to describe a person passing away, as 走咗 or 過身 are preferred.
Examples
Their country has already fallen.
This war caused many people to risk their lives.
Related words
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with 忙, which means busy, as they share the same sound in many contexts but have completely different meanings. Also, avoid using it as a direct substitute for die in casual settings, as it sounds overly dramatic or archaic.
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.
