sei2 sei2 haa2死死吓
Jyutpingsei2 sei2 haa2
Yaleséi séi há
Definition
On the verge of dying, barely hanging on, or suffering greatly.
colloquialhealthwork
How it's used
This expression vividly describes a state of being overwhelmed or physically drained to the point of near collapse. It is frequently used in hyperbolic contexts to emphasize that a task or situation is extremely taxing or unbearable. Unlike formal terms for illness, this phrase focuses on the visible struggle or the feeling of being pushed to one's absolute limit.
Related words
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with literal death. It is an idiomatic way to express extreme fatigue or difficulty, not a medical description of someone actually dying.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- Directional complementsThe small words added after a verb to show direction of movement, like up, down, out, in, and back. Common in everyday Cantonese.
- DemonstrativesThis and that with 呢 and 嗰, the personal pronouns, and how 哋 turns I, you, and he into we, you all, and they.
- Resultative complementsSticking a result word onto a verb to show how it turned out, like eat until full or look and find. A productive everyday pattern.
