seon1 zong3殉葬
Jyutpingseon1 zong3
Yalesēun jong
Definition
To bury alive with the dead; to sacrifice the living to accompany the deceased in burial.
neutralpeopleother
How it's used
Refers specifically to the historical practice of burying living people, usually servants or concubines, alongside a deceased ruler. It carries a heavy, somber tone and is almost exclusively used when discussing historical or archaeological contexts. Unlike general burial terms, it carries an inherent sense of violence and forced death.
Examples
Ancient emperors really liked to have people buried with them.
This custom of human sacrifice burial is truly cruel.
Related words
Common phrases
live human sacrifice burial
Common mistake
Do not use this word to describe the common practice of burying inanimate objects like jewelry or pottery with the dead, which is better described as 陪葬.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
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.
