除非我死
chúfēi wǒ sǐ
The English phrase "over my dead body" can be expressed in Chinese as 除非我死 (chúfēi wǒ sǐ).
This phrase is used to express strong opposition to something, indicating that you will never allow a particular event or action to occur.
What does it mean word for word?
Literally, 除非我死 means "unless I die".
How does it change in a sentence?
In a complete sentence, this phrase is often paired with 否则 (fǒuzé) to create a structure meaning "unless I die, [otherwise] X will happen".
How do you pronounce it?
chúfēi wǒ sǐ
Did you know?
- The word 死 (sǐ) in 除非我死 is a homophone for several other words, leading to the use of the number 4 (sì) as a symbol of death. Because of this, many buildings in China skip the 4th floor, similar to how some Western buildings skip the 13th.
- In traditional Chinese culture, talking explicitly about death such as saying 除非我死 can be seen as an ill omen. In some social settings, people use indirect language to avoid naming death directly to prevent bringing bad luck.
- While 除非我死 is a direct translation, Chinese speakers often use the idiom 绝不 (juébù) or 没门 (méimén) to express the same stubbornness. 没门 literally means 'there is no door', implying there is no way for the event to happen.
Examples in context
- 你要我放弃我的梦想？宁死不从！You want me to give up on my dreams? Over my dead body!
- 宁可死了也不妥协。Over my dead body will I compromise.
- 除非我死，否则绝不允许他进门。Chúfēi wǒ sǐ, fǒuzé jué bù yǔnxǔ tā jìn mén.Over my dead body, I will never allow him to enter the house.
Example conversation
Jiayi and Junjie are arguing about selling the family house.
- 俊杰 Junjie我们应该把这房子卖掉。wǒ men yīng gāi bǎ zhè fáng zi mài diào.We should sell this house.
- 佳怡 Jiayi除非我死，我绝不同意！chú fēi wǒ sǐ, wǒ jué bù tóng yì!Over my dead body!
- 俊杰 Junjie但这里太大了，我们不需要。dàn zhè lǐ tài dà le, wǒ men bù xū yào.But it's too big, we don't need it.
- 佳怡 Jiayi不管怎样，我不会搬走的。bù guǎn zěn yàng, wǒ bù huì bān zǒu de.Regardless, I am not moving.
