wan5 san1殞身殒身
Jyutpingwan5 san1
Yalewáhn sān
Definition
To lose one's life; to die.
writtenpeopleother
How it's used
This term carries a solemn and tragic weight, typically reserved for heroic or dramatic contexts rather than everyday accidents. It is essentially a literary expression that elevates the act of dying to a sacrifice or a grand event. You will rarely hear this in casual conversation, as it is mostly found in historical narratives, news reports about tragedies, or formal tributes.
Examples
He lost his life to save others, he is truly brave.
The soldiers who lost their lives on the battlefield are always worthy of our respect.
Related words
Common phrases
to lose one's life for one's country
Common mistake
Avoid using this to describe mundane deaths or common illnesses, as it implies a sense of nobility or intense circumstances. Using it for a natural death would sound bizarrely over-dramatic or inappropriate.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- In 30 secondsThe whole language at a glance. No tenses, no plurals, six tones, sentence particles. Read this before you dive into any specific topic.
- ParticlesSentence particles add tone, emotion, and nuance. Learn the most common particles in Cantonese and how to use them.
- Possession (嘅)How to say my, your, and his, and how to link a describing word to a noun, all with the little word 嘅 (ge3).
