san1 mong4身亡
Jyutpingsan1 mong4
Yalesān mòhng
Definition
To die; to lose one's life.
writtenpeopleother
How it's used
Carry a formal and journalistic tone that is rarely used in casual, face-to-face conversation. It is primarily encountered in news reports, police statements, or official documents to describe a death in a neutral or objective manner. When speaking about someone passing away in everyday life, Cantonese speakers prefer using 死 or the more euphemistic 走咗.
Examples
He died in that car accident.
Why did that person suddenly die?
Related words
Common phrases
to die in an accident
Common mistake
Avoid using this word to describe the death of a friend or family member in conversation, as it sounds cold, clinical, and detached. It is strictly reserved for reporting facts rather than expressing personal grief or sentiment.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- QuestionsFrom yes or no questions to asking who, what, where, and when. The patterns you need to ask questions naturally in Cantonese.
- ClassifiersCantonese puts a classifier between a number and a noun, and a bare classifier on its own can mean the. Learn the common ones and how to use them.
- ComparisonsHow to say bigger than, the most, the same as, and not as good as. Cantonese uses 過 where Mandarin uses 比, and that catches a lot of learners out.
