zung1 san1 daai6 si6終身大事终身大事
Definition
An important, life-changing, and usually once-in-a-lifetime event, most commonly referring to marriage.
How it's used
While this term technically refers to any life-altering decision, it is almost exclusively used to pressure or discuss someone getting married. It carries a sense of gravity and expectation, often used by older family members to express concern about a younger person's relationship status. Using it for other life events like choosing a career path is possible but sounds significantly more dramatic and formal.
Examples
Related words
Common phrases
Common mistake
Avoid using this to describe major but routine life events like graduating from university or buying a house, as it sounds overly melodramatic and out of place. It is reserved for events that fundamentally change one's social or family status.
Grammar color guide
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.
