How to Say "Born" in Cantonese

出世

ceot1 sai3

The Cantonese word for born is 出世 (ceot1 sai3).

出世 is used as an adjective to describe someone who has been given birth to.

Meaning: given birth to (adj)

What does it mean word for word?

The phrase is composed of 出 (to go out/emerge) and 世 (world), literally meaning 'to emerge into the world'.

While 出世 is the common, colloquial way to say 'born', the term 出生 is a more formal alternative often used in written or official contexts.

In the Canton (Guangzhou) region, the term Saang1 is used to mean born.

ceot1 sai3

While 出世 means to be born, in certain Buddhist contexts or among older generations, it can also mean to 'pass away' or 'leave the world'.
In Cantonese, the phrase 出世 is often used when discussing a baby's specific time of birth, which is a crucial part of traditional Chinese astrology.
Because 出世 implies 'emerging' from the world, it can occasionally be used metaphorically to describe something new appearing or coming into existence.

佢幾時出世㗎？
When was she born?
This sentence is useful for asking about a person's birth time.
Tatoeba #425935 by nickyeow, translation #310506 by CK
佢就係喺呢間屋度出世㗎喇。
This is the house he was born in.
This sentence is useful for describing the location where someone was born.
Tatoeba #585675 by nickyeow, translation #55453 by CK
我出世無耐，阿媽就過咗身。
My mother died shortly after I was born.
This sentence is useful for describing a sequence of events involving a birth and a death.
Tatoeba #12084919 by thesilhouette, translation #7127222 by CM
15 more sentences on Tatoeba

Ka Ming and Ka Yan are talking about their hometowns.

家明 Ka Ming

你喺邊個城市出世㗎？
nei5 hai2 bin1 go3 sing4 si5 chut1 sai3 gaa3?
Which city were you born in?
嘉欣 Ka Yan

我喺香港出世，但係喺英國長大。
ngo5 hai2 hoeng1 gong2 chut1 sai3, daan6 si6 hai2 jing1 gwok3 coeng4 daai6.
I was born in Hong Kong, but grew up in the UK.
家明 Ka Ming

咁你係咪持有英國護照？
gam2 nei5 hai6 mai6 ci4 jau5 jing1 gwok3 wu6 ziu3?
So do you hold a British passport?
嘉欣 Ka Yan

係呀，因為我出世嗰陣爸爸喺度工作。
hai6 aa3, jan1 wai6 ngo5 chut1 sai3 go2 zan6 baa1 baa1 hai2 dou3 gung1 zok3.
Yes, because my father was working there when I was born.

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