seng4 sai3 jan4成世人
Jyutpingseng4 sai3 jan4
Yalesèhng sai yàhn
Definition
One's whole life; an entire lifetime.
colloquialtimepeople
How it's used
Emphasizes the entirety of a person's life span, often used to express extreme surprise, regret, or a sense of finality. It frequently appears in negative constructions to highlight that something has never happened before. It carries a slightly dramatic or emphatic tone compared to simply saying 一世.
Examples
I have never been this happy in my entire life.
How do you plan to spend your whole life?
Related words
Common phrases
never in my life have I experienced
in all my years of living
Common mistake
Avoid using this to refer to the lifespan of non-human entities or objects, as it is strictly used for the human experience. It is also not a direct translation for the duration of a specific event, where words like 全程 would be more appropriate.
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.
