sing3 meng6性命
Jyutpingsing3 meng6
Yalesing mehng
Definition
Life; the state of being alive.
neutralpeoplehealth
How it's used
性命 carries a heavier, more dramatic weight than the common word 命. It is typically reserved for serious contexts involving survival, danger, or life-or-death situations, rather than just referring to the general concept of a person's life or lifespan.
Measure word
tiu4條tìuhExamples
He didn't even care about his own life in order to save others.
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often use 性命 in casual conversation where 命 would be more natural. For example, saying 佢好珍惜性命 sounds overly formal or literary, whereas 佢好珍惜條命 is the standard way to express that someone values their life.
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).
