sei2 sau2死守

Jyutpingsei2 sau2

Yaleséi sáu

動詞Uncommon

Definition

To defend a place or something to the death, refusing to give up.

neutraldaily actionsother

How it's used

Carries a strong sense of desperation and unwavering commitment, often implying that the person is willing to sacrifice everything to maintain their position. While it can be used in military contexts, it is frequently applied metaphorically to abstract concepts like secrets, principles, or even a lead in a competitive game. It conveys a much higher level of intensity than simply using 守住.

Examples

keoi5佢dei6哋sei2死sau2守go3個zan6陣dei6地，m4唔hang2肯teoi3退hau6後jat1一bou6步。

They defended the position to the death and refused to step back.

ni1呢go3個bei3秘mat6密nei5你jat1一ding6定jiu3要sei2死sau2守，m4唔hou2好waa6話bei2畀jan4人zi1知。

You must guard this secret with your life and not tell anyone.

Common phrases

sei2死sau2守zan6陣dei6地

defend a position to the death

sei2死sau2守bei3秘mat6密

guard a secret with one's life

Common mistake

Avoid using this to describe routine or casual guarding, as it implies a life or death struggle. Using it for something trivial, like guarding a seat in a cafe, sounds overly dramatic and unnatural.