sei2 zeoi6死罪
Jyutpingsei2 zeoi6
Yaleséi jeuih
Definition
Capital offense or a crime punishable by death; also used figuratively to mean a fatal mistake or grave error.
- capital offense; a crime punishable by death
- figurativefatal mistake; grave error; unpardonable fault
colloquialother
How it's used
Beyond its literal legal meaning, this term is frequently used in hyperbolic, everyday speech to describe a catastrophic error or a social blunder. It carries a heavy, dramatic weight that implies the person who committed the mistake is beyond redemption in that specific context. Use it when you want to emphasize that someone has crossed a line that is absolutely unforgivable.
Measure word
tiu4條tìuhExamples
Murder was a capital offense in the past.
You messed up the client's order, that is practically a fatal mistake.
Related words
Common phrases
to commit a capital offense
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with simply being in trouble, as it implies a level of severity that is final and absolute. Using it for minor mistakes will sound overly dramatic or sarcastic rather than serious.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- NegationHow to say no, not, didn't, and don't in Cantonese. The four main negation words and when to use each one.
- Numbers and moneyCounting, talking about money, and asking how much things cost. Includes the two words for two and the everyday words for dollars and cents.
- Aspect markersCantonese has no tenses, but it does have aspect markers. Learn how zo2, gwo3, gan2, and hai2 dou6 show completion, experience, and ongoing action.
