sau6 sing1 gung1 diu3 geng2壽星公吊頸寿星公吊颈
Jyutpingsau6 sing1 gung1 diu3 geng2
Yalesauh sīng gūng diu géng
Definition
To tempt disaster or take a big risk, as if tired of living.
colloquialpeopleslang
How it's used
This is a classic Cantonese xiehouyu, a two-part allegorical saying where the second part is often omitted in speech. The full phrase is 壽星公吊頸，嫌命長, which translates to the god of longevity hanging himself, meaning he is tired of living. It is used to mock someone who is acting recklessly or doing something incredibly dangerous that invites disaster.
Examples
Doing that is basically courting death, you are risking your life.
He is taking selfies on the cliff edge, he is really asking for trouble and tired of living.
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often mistake this for a literal description of a deity, but it is strictly a metaphorical insult or warning. It is quite strong and should not be used in formal settings or with people you do not know well, as it implies the person is being foolishly suicidal.
Grammar color guide
Noun
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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.
