soeng6 san1上身
Jyutpingsoeng6 san1
Yaleseuhng sān
Definition
To have one's body or soul possessed by a ghost, spirit, or other entity.
colloquialpeopleother
How it's used
Beyond the literal meaning of spiritual possession, this term is frequently used metaphorically to describe someone behaving in a sudden, uncharacteristic, or irrational way. It often implies that the person is acting under the influence of an external force, such as extreme anger, obsession, or even a sudden burst of energy. It is a common way to tease friends who are acting out of character.
Examples
He acts like he's possessed, saying all sorts of weird things.
Are you so feverish that you're acting possessed?
Related words
Common phrases
possessed by a ghost
acting like one is possessed
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with the literal physical act of wearing a shirt, which is also written as 上身 but pronounced with a different tone pattern in some contexts. In the context of possession, it is almost always used in the phrase 鬼上身.
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.
