zap1 faan1 tiu4 meng6 zai2執返條命仔执返条命仔
Jyutpingzap1 faan1 tiu4 meng6 zai2
Yalejāp fāan tìuh mehng jái
Definition
To survive a dangerous situation; to escape death by luck.
colloquialhealthpeople
How it's used
The inclusion of 仔 at the end adds a sense of relief and humility, emphasizing that the survival was a stroke of luck rather than a triumph of strength. It is almost exclusively used to describe surviving a specific, immediate danger like a serious accident or a life threatening illness. Using it for minor inconveniences sounds overly dramatic and sarcastic.
Examples
I really survived that car accident, luckily I am fine.
Related words
Common phrases
to survive a close call
Common mistake
Do not use this to describe simply recovering from a common cold or a minor headache, as it implies the situation was truly life threatening.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- TonesCantonese has six tones, and the tones can change in certain grammatical contexts. Learn the six tones and the rules for tone change.
- Time and datesClock time, days of the week, months, and years. The patterns you need to make plans and talk about when things happen.
- Modal verbsHow to say can, will, may, should, must, and want. The core modal verbs of Cantonese and the differences that trip up beginners.
