mou4 kei4 tou4 jing4無期徒刑无期徒刑
Jyutpingmou4 kei4 tou4 jing4
Yalemòuh kèih tòuh yìhng
Definition
Life imprisonment; a life sentence.
writtenother
How it's used
Legal terminology in Hong Kong often uses 終身監禁 instead of 無期徒刑, which is more common in Taiwan or mainland legal contexts. While the latter is understood by locals, it sounds slightly more formal or literary, often appearing in news reports about overseas cases. It carries a heavy, serious tone that is rarely used in casual conversation unless discussing crime or justice.
Examples
He was sentenced to life imprisonment and shouldn't expect to ever get out.
Is it reasonable to sentence someone to life imprisonment for such a serious crime?
Related words
Common phrases
to sentence to life imprisonment
Common mistake
Learners often confuse this with 終身監禁. While they mean the same thing, 終身監禁 is the standard legal term used in Hong Kong courts and local media, making it the more natural choice for daily communication.
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.
