sik1 lou4 gwai1 zyu2息勞歸主息劳归主
Jyutpingsik1 lou4 gwai1 zyu2
Yalesīk lòuh gwāi jyú
Definition
To rest from one's earthly labors and return to the Lord; used by Christians to refer to someone passing away.
neutralpeople
How it's used
Reserved exclusively for Christian contexts, this phrase carries a gentle and respectful tone when announcing a death. It frames the passing not as a tragic end, but as a release from the burdens of worldly life to join God. It is most commonly heard during church announcements or when speaking to fellow believers.
Examples
His grandfather was old and has passed away peacefully today.
I heard Uncle Chan has passed away, do you know when the memorial service is?
Related words
Common mistake
Avoid using this phrase for non-Christians, as it specifically implies a return to the Christian God. Using it for someone outside the faith may be seen as culturally insensitive or confusing.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- QuestionsFrom yes or no questions to asking who, what, where, and when. The patterns you need to ask questions naturally in Cantonese.
- ClassifiersCantonese puts a classifier between a number and a noun, and a bare classifier on its own can mean the. Learn the common ones and how to use them.
- ComparisonsHow to say bigger than, the most, the same as, and not as good as. Cantonese uses 過 where Mandarin uses 比, and that catches a lot of learners out.
