zit3 sau6折壽折寿
Jyutpingzit3 sau6
Yalejit sauh
Definition
To have one's life shortened, especially as a consequence of bad deeds or excesses.
colloquialhealthpeople
How it's used
Carries a strong moral or superstitious weight, often used as a warning against bad behavior or excessive lifestyle choices. It implies that one's allotted lifespan is being depleted prematurely by negative actions or extreme stress. It is frequently invoked in heated arguments or when criticizing someone's lack of conscience.
Examples
You stay up so late and work so hard, you really will shorten your life.
He does so many evil things, isn't he afraid of shortening his life?
Related words
Common phrases
will shorten one's life (emphatic)
Common mistake
Avoid using this to describe medical conditions or natural aging, as it specifically implies a karmic or moral consequence for one's actions.
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.
