seon1 zit3殉節殉节
Jyutpingseon1 zit3
Yalesēun jit
Definition
To sacrifice one's life to preserve loyalty, chastity, or moral integrity.
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How it's used
Carries a heavy, formal, and historical weight, typically reserved for describing figures from dynastic history or literature. It specifically implies a moral or political commitment to a cause or a person, rather than a general act of martyrdom. You will rarely hear this used in modern, casual conversation unless discussing historical drama or literature.
Examples
He sacrificed his life for the country's loyalty, which is truly admirable.
Did those loyal officials in ancient times really sacrifice their lives for their monarchs?
Related words
Common phrases
a loyal official sacrificing his life
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with general terms for dying or sacrificing oneself like 犧牲, as 殉節 specifically emphasizes the preservation of one's integrity or loyalty to a superior.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- 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.
- Possession (嘅)How to say my, your, and his, and how to link a describing word to a noun, all with the little word 嘅 (ge3).
