ping4 sang1平生
Jyutpingping4 sang1
Yalepìhng sāng
Definition
One's whole life; lifelong.
writtentime
How it's used
Literary in tone, this term is rarely used in casual, everyday speech compared to the more common 成世人 or 一世. It is typically reserved for formal writing, speeches, or when someone is reflecting deeply on their life experiences or long-held ambitions. Using it in a mundane context can make you sound overly dramatic or like you are reciting a poem.
Examples
He has loved traveling his whole life.
Have you ever seen such a big dog in your life?
Related words
Common mistake
Avoid using this in casual conversation as it sounds stiff and archaic. Most native speakers will use 成世人 to express the same meaning in daily life.
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.
