soeng5 tin1 tong4上天堂
Jyutpingsoeng5 tin1 tong4
Yaleséuhng tīn tòhng
Definition
To go to heaven; to pass away.
- to go to heaven upon death
- figurativeto experience immense joy, pleasure, or ecstasy
colloquialpeople
How it's used
This expression is a common euphemism used to soften the blow of discussing death. It carries a gentle, respectful tone, often used when speaking about elderly relatives or those who have passed away peacefully. It is widely understood across different religious backgrounds in Hong Kong, not just by Christians.
Examples
His grandfather already went to heaven last month.
Do people really go to heaven after they die?
Related words
Common phrases
to pass away peacefully
Common mistake
Avoid using this term in overly clinical or blunt contexts, such as a police report or a medical diagnosis, as it is strictly a colloquial, emotive phrase rather than a factual description of death.
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.
