過咗身
gwo3 zo2 san1
過咗身 (gwo3 zo2 san1) is the Cantonese way to say passed away.
過咗身 is used as a polite euphemism to express that someone has died.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of the verb 過 (to pass), the aspect marker 咗 (indicating completed action) and 身 (body).
Which one should you use?
While 過咗身 is a polite euphemism, 死咗 is the direct and blunt way to say someone has died. For a more informal way to refer to someone's passing, you can use 去咗, which literally means gone.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
For even more formal contexts, you can use 逝世 or 過世 (which is interchangeable with 逝世). Conversely, 死咗 is colloquial and blunt, while 去咗 is informal.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Hong Kong, the colloquial term for has died is 死咗. In Guangdong, the term 去世 is used to mean to pass away.
How does it change in a sentence?
The phrase uses the aspect marker 咗 to indicate that the death has already occurred.
How do you pronounce it?
gwo3 zo2 san1
Did you know?
- In Traditional Chinese funerals, the term 仙逝 (immortal departure) is sometimes used to suggest that the deceased has become an immortal or a fairy.
- Cantonese has specific 'taboo' words for death that are so avoided that speakers will use a word that sounds similar but has a different meaning to bypass the bad omen.
- When discussing a death, speakers may use the word 老咗 (got old) or 走咗 to avoid the 'death' taboo entirely, even when the cause of death was not old age.
Examples in context
- 佢個阿哥上個月過咗身。His older brother passed away last month.This sentence is useful for saying someone's brother passed away in the previous month.Tatoeba #466421 by nickyeow, translation #6403819 by alishalikescats
- 佢屋企人過咗身。keoi5 uk1 kei2 jan4 gwo3 zo2 san1.His family member passed away.
Example conversation
Ka Yan and Ka Ming are talking about a mutual acquaintance.
- 嘉欣 Ka Yan你有冇聽講陳先生過咗身？nei5 jau5 mou5 ting1 gong2 can4 sin1 saang1 gwo3 zo2 san1?Have you heard that Mr. Chan passed away?
- 家明 Ka Ming真係咩？我唔知喎。zan1 hai6 me1? ngo5 m4 zi1 wo3.Really? I didn't know that.
- 嘉欣 Ka Yan係呀，上個星期三就過咗身。hai6 aa3, seong6 go3 sing1 kei4 saam1 zau6 gwo3 zo2 san1.Yes, he passed away last Wednesday.
- 家明 Ka Ming好可惜，佢係一個好人。hou2 fo2 sik1, keoi5 hai6 jat1 go3 hou2 jan4.That's a pity, he was a good person.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
