se2 ming6捨命舍命
Jyutpingse2 ming6
Yalesé mihng
Definition
To sacrifice one's life or risk one's life.
colloquialdaily actionsemotion
How it's used
This term carries a dramatic, intense weight that implies a total disregard for personal safety in pursuit of a goal. While it can describe heroic acts, it is also frequently used in casual conversation to hyperbolically describe someone working excessively hard or pushing themselves to the point of exhaustion. It functions as a modifier for verbs, emphasizing that the action is being performed with extreme, life-threatening commitment.
Examples
He really risked his life rushing into the fire to save the cat.
Related words
Common phrases
to risk one's life to save someone
to risk one's life to keep someone company
Common mistake
Learners often use this in contexts that are too mild, such as simply being busy or trying hard. It should be reserved for situations involving genuine danger or extreme, self-sacrificial effort.
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.
