zung1 san1終身终身
Jyutpingzung1 san1
Yalejūng sān
Definition
One's entire life; lifelong, especially regarding life choices, marriage, interests, or rights.
neutraltimepeople
How it's used
Focuses on long term commitments or permanent states rather than just the duration of a life. It is frequently used in formal or legal contexts, such as contracts or sentencing, but also appears in personal vows or serious promises. Unlike 一世, which is more casual and can be used for minor things, 終身 carries a weight of permanence and gravity.
Examples
They decided to stay together for life, it is truly rare.
Do you want to apply for a lifetime membership?
Related words
Common phrases
life imprisonment
lifetime achievement
lifelong learning
Common mistake
Avoid using it for casual daily activities, such as saying you will eat a certain food 終身. It sounds overly dramatic and unnatural in those contexts; use 一世 instead.
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.
