piu5殍
Jyutpingpiu5
Yalepíuh
Definition
To die of starvation.
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How it's used
This term is extremely literary and carries a heavy, tragic tone that is rarely used in casual conversation. It is almost exclusively found in historical accounts or formal writing to describe mass starvation or famine. Using it in daily life to describe being hungry would sound bizarrely dramatic or archaic.
Examples
Back in the day, many people were so poor they died of starvation.
If they keep starving like this, they will really die of hunger.
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often confuse this with common words for hunger like 肚餓 or 餓死. 殍 is a formal, written-style verb specifically for death by starvation, not a casual way to express that you skipped lunch.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
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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.
