tiu4 meng6條命条命
Jyutpingtiu4 meng6
Yaletìuh mehng
Definition
One's life.
colloquialpeoplebody
How it's used
Used frequently in dramatic or emotional contexts to emphasize the fragility or value of existence. It often appears in idioms or complaints about working too hard, such as working until one is nearly dead. Unlike the more formal 生命, this term is deeply personal and carries a visceral weight in daily speech.
Measure word
tiu4條tìuhExamples
He really doesn't even care about his life for the sake of that job.
Related words
Common mistake
Avoid using this in formal writing or professional medical contexts, as it sounds too casual and potentially disrespectful. It is strictly for spoken, informal, or emotive situations.
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.
