nin2 sei2捻死
Jyutpingnin2 sei2
Yalenín séi
Definition
To pinch, squeeze, or crush something to death with one's fingers.
colloquialdaily actionsanimals
How it's used
Focuses specifically on the physical act of using fingers or fingertips to exert pressure until something small is destroyed. It is almost exclusively used for small insects or tiny pests rather than larger objects or people. The imagery is visceral and implies a quick, decisive movement.
Examples
A mosquito flew over, and I crushed it to death in one go.
Don't crush that ant to death, it's very cruel.
Related words
Common phrases
crush a mosquito to death
crush an ant to death
Common mistake
Avoid using this for killing larger animals or people, as it sounds bizarrely specific and cartoonishly violent. For general killing, use 殺 instead.
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.
