pan4 sei2瀕死濒死
Jyutpingpan4 sei2
Yalepàhn séi
Definition
Dying, near-death, or in a state of being close to death.
writtenhealth
How it's used
This term is formal and typically reserved for medical or serious contexts rather than casual conversation. It carries a heavy, clinical tone that implies a critical state of health. When describing someone who is passing away in a more natural or everyday way, speakers often prefer phrases like 臨終 or 冇幾耐命.
Examples
He is so sick he looks like he is dying, it is really miserable.
The doctor said his condition is near-death and he needs immediate emergency care.
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often mistakenly use this as a direct synonym for being very sick, but it specifically denotes the final stage of life. Using it to describe a minor illness or a common cold sounds overly dramatic and inappropriate.
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.
