soeng6 tin1上天
Jyutpingsoeng6 tin1
Yaleseuhng tīn
Definition
Heaven, God, or providence; a formless, non-sectarian divine power.
colloquialother
How it's used
Refers to a vague, non-religious force that governs fate or luck rather than a specific deity from a particular faith. It is frequently used in casual speech to express resignation or gratitude regarding events outside of human control. Unlike formal religious terms, it carries a sense of cosmic justice or randomness that people appeal to when they feel helpless.
Examples
I really have to thank heaven for watching over me this time.
It is so miserable that heaven is being so unfair to him.
Related words
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with the literal sky, which is 天空. Using 上天 to describe the physical atmosphere will sound poetic or nonsensical in everyday conversation.
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.
