sang1 sei2 mei6 buk1生死未卜
Jyutpingsang1 sei2 mei6 buk1
Yalesāng séi meih būk
Definition
Uncertain of whether someone is alive or dead; hovering between life and death.
writtenpeopledescriptions
How it's used
This idiom is typically reserved for serious, life-threatening situations like natural disasters, major accidents, or missing persons cases. It carries a heavy, somber tone and is rarely used in casual conversation unless discussing a grave event. It functions as a descriptive phrase rather than a verb, often appearing at the end of a sentence to emphasize the precarious state of someone's life.
Examples
After that accident, their survival is uncertain.
They have been missing for days, and their fate is unknown.
Related words
Common phrases
the situation is life-or-death
Common mistake
Learners often mistakenly use this for general uncertainty, such as not knowing if a store is open or if a friend will attend a party. It is strictly limited to the context of life and death, so avoid using it for trivial matters.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- LocationHow to say where something is using 喺 (hai2), place words like 度, and the common coverbs that work like English prepositions.
- Serial verbsStringing two or more verbs together without any joining word, like go to the shop buy things. Extremely common in Cantonese.
- 將 disposalHow to move the object in front of the verb with 將, to focus on what happens to it. Common in instructions and writing.
