zeoi3 sang1 mung6 sei2醉生夢死醉生梦死
Jyutpingzeoi3 sang1 mung6 sei2
Yalejeui sāng muhng séi
Definition
Leading a befuddled, aimless, or decadent life as if drunk or in a dream.
colloquialdescriptionspeople
How it's used
This idiom carries a strong sense of disapproval or pity, suggesting that someone is wasting their potential by avoiding reality. It is often used to describe people who indulge in hedonism or escapism to ignore their responsibilities. Unlike some other idioms, it is frequently used in modern speech to criticize a lack of ambition or a state of mental stagnation.
Examples
He lives a befuddled life every day, with absolutely no goals.
Related words
Common phrases
to live a dazed and aimless life
Common mistake
Learners often mistake this for a literal description of someone who is drunk, but it is a metaphorical state of mind. It describes a lifestyle or a prolonged period of aimlessness rather than a temporary state of intoxication.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
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Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- LocationHow to say where something is using 喺 (hai2), place words like 度, and the common coverbs that work like English prepositions.
- Serial verbsStringing two or more verbs together without any joining word, like go to the shop buy things. Extremely common in Cantonese.
- 將 disposalHow to move the object in front of the verb with 將, to focus on what happens to it. Common in instructions and writing.
