sei2 jau5 jyu4 gu1死有餘辜死有余辜
Definition
Even death cannot atone for one's crimes; deserving of a punishment worse than death.
How it's used
This idiom carries a very strong, condemnatory tone used to describe someone whose actions are so heinous that death is considered a fitting or insufficient punishment. It is almost exclusively reserved for extreme cases like murder, treason, or severe moral depravity. Because of its heavy weight, it is rarely used in casual conversation unless the speaker is expressing intense moral outrage.
Examples
Related words
Common phrases
Common mistake
Learners often mistake this for a general way to say someone is bad or annoying, but it specifically implies that the person's crimes are so severe that even death does not settle the debt. Using it for minor offenses or everyday annoyances will sound disproportionately aggressive and unnatural.
Grammar color guide
Grammar guides
- 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.
- In 30 secondsThe whole language at a glance. No tenses, no plurals, six tones, sentence particles. Read this before you dive into any specific topic.
- ParticlesSentence particles add tone, emotion, and nuance. Learn the most common particles in Cantonese and how to use them.
