song3 sang1喪生丧生
Jyutpingsong3 sang1
Yalesong sāng
Definition
To lose one's life; to die.
writtenpeopleother
How it's used
This term is strictly formal and typically appears in news reports, official statements, or legal documents. It carries a grave and objective tone that is inappropriate for casual conversation about someone passing away. Use everyday verbs like 死 or 走咗 instead when speaking with friends or family.
Examples
That car accident resulted in two people losing their lives.
He unfortunately lost his life in the fire.
Related words
Common phrases
to die at the scene
to unfortunately lose one's life
Common mistake
Learners often mistakenly use this in daily speech because it sounds more sophisticated, but it sounds jarringly detached or overly dramatic in a personal context. Avoid using it to describe the death of someone you know personally.
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.
