si1 sau2屍首尸首
Jyutpingsi1 sau2
Yalesī sáu
Definition
A human corpse.
neutralpeopleother
How it's used
Refers specifically to a human body that has passed away, often carrying a more formal or clinical tone compared to the everyday word 屍體. It is frequently encountered in news reports, police procedural contexts, or formal descriptions of crime scenes. Using it in casual conversation about a deceased person can sound overly detached or dramatic.
Measure word
geoi6具geuihExamples
The police found a corpse on the hillside.
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often mistakenly use it for animal carcasses, but it is strictly reserved for humans. For animals, use 屍體 or 屍骸 instead.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- Directional complementsThe small words added after a verb to show direction of movement, like up, down, out, in, and back. Common in everyday Cantonese.
- DemonstrativesThis and that with 呢 and 嗰, the personal pronouns, and how 哋 turns I, you, and he into we, you all, and they.
- Resultative complementsSticking a result word onto a verb to show how it turned out, like eat until full or look and find. A productive everyday pattern.
