Ways to say it
| Cantonese | Romanization (Wiktionary) | Note |
|---|---|---|
| 死 | sei² | |
| 過身 / 过身 | gwo³ san¹ | |
| 瓜 | gwaa¹ | slang |
| 釘 / 钉 | deng¹ | slang |
| 歸西 / 归西 | gwai¹ sai¹ |
The primary way to say someone has stopped living is to use 死. For more specific contexts, you might use the formal term 死亡 for the concept of 'death' or the respectful euphemism 過世 to say someone 'passed away'. In formal announcements or obituaries, the term 辭世 is often used to mean 'departing from this world'.
Which one should you use?
While 死 is the standard verb, other forms change the tone: 過身 is a polite euphemism, 歸西 is an idiomatic expression meaning 'to go to the West' and 瓜 is slang used to indicate someone has died or that a situation is finished. The term 釘 is also used as slang.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
死 is the plain, standard verb. For polite conversation, use the euphemism 過身. In formal settings like obituaries, use 辭世 or the noun 死亡. For casual or slang contexts, you might hear 瓜 or 釘.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Hong Kong, the phrase 搞死 is commonly used to convey the idea of killing someone or making someone die.
How does it change in a sentence?
To indicate that the death has already occurred, you can add the aspect marker 咗 (zo²) after the verb, resulting in 死咗 (died).
How do you pronounce it?
sei²
When do people say it?
The expression 歸西 is an idiomatic way to say someone has died, literally meaning 'to go to the West', which provides a more colorful or traditional way of speaking than the plain verb 死.
Did you know?
- In Cantonese, 死 is frequently used in hyperbolic everyday phrases to mean 'extremely' or 'to death', such as 攰死 meaning 'tired to death'.
- The slang term 瓜 (gwaa1), which means 'melon', is used to describe someone who has died or a situation that has failed. It is a very casual way to speak about death in a humorous or irreverent way.
- The phrase 歸西 reflects the ancient Buddhist belief that the Pure Land of the West is the destination for the deceased.
Examples in context
- Tom會死。Tom will die.This sentence shows the use of 死 to express a future state.Tatoeba #4676016 by kaenif, translation #2215659 by CK
- 佢唔係癌症死㗎。He did not die of cancer.This sentence uses 死 to specify a cause of death.Tatoeba #397161 by nickyeow, translation #289603 by CK
- 俾我死咗去算啦。Let me die.This sentence uses 死 to express a personal wish regarding death.Tatoeba #1781059 by nickyeow, translation #1020543 by CK
- 13 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Two friends are talking about a fish that is no longer swimming.
- 俊傑 Chun Kit隻金魚係咪死咗？zek1 gam1 jyu2 hai6 mai6 sei2 zo2?Did the goldfish die?
- 曉彤 Hiu Tung好似係，佢唔郁。hou2 ci5 hai6, keoi5 m4 juk1.It seems so, it's not moving.
- 俊傑 Chun Kit點解會死咁快？dim2 lai6 wui5 sei2 gam3 faai3?Why did it die so quickly?
- 曉彤 Hiu Tung我唔知，好可惜。ngo5 m4 zi1, hou2 po1 sik1.I don't know, it's a pity.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “die” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
