起身
hei² san¹
To stand up in Cantonese is 起身 (hei² san¹).
起身 is used to describe the physical act of rising from a sitting position. It can also be used metaphorically to describe recovering or 'getting back up' after a setback.
Meaning: rise from a sitting position (verb)
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase 起身 is composed of the verb 起 (hei²) meaning 'to rise' and the noun 身 (san¹) meaning 'body'.
How do you pronounce it?
hei² san¹
Did you know?
- While English uses 'stand up' for the physical act, Cantonese speakers often use 起身 to mean 'to leave' or 'to depart' from a social gathering or a seated conversation.
- While 起身 means 'stand up', it is also the standard way to say 'wake up' and 'get out of bed'. In Cantonese, the act of waking up is linguistically tied to the physical movement of the 'body' rising.
- The word 身 in 起身 also appears in the Cantonese term for 'body' used in beauty and health, but it can also mean 'half a day' or 'a whole day' in specific time-related idioms.
Examples in context
- 老師叫我企起身。The teacher told me to stand up.This sentence shows a teacher instructing someone to use 起身.Tatoeba #534285 by nickyeow, translation #272966 by CK
- 我一企起身就會頭暈。I get dizzy spells when I stand up.This sentence uses 起身 to describe the sensation of getting dizzy when rising.Tatoeba #5734105 by nickyeow, translation #325428 by CK
- 關心一個人，就會成為朋友！而你嘅勇氣將會係無限嘅！但係當你有你關心嘅人，你只係跌唔到！你只係唔可以投降！當你有嗰啲人，你關心佢哋嘅時候，你會一次又一次噉企起身！所以英雄絕對係無敵嘅！If you care about someone, you'll become friends! If you care about each other, you'll become many times stronger! And your bravery will be unlimited! In this world are many unpleasant things, many sad things, and many that, which you can't handle by yourself. But while you have people you care about, you just can't fall! You just cannot surrender! While you have those people, about which you care, you will stand up again and again! That's why Hero is absolutely undefeatable!This sentence uses 起身 metaphorically to describe standing up again and again.Tatoeba #13107524 by Davidgo5867, translation #8597453 by Teashrock
- 請大家起身，歡迎我們的特別嘉賓!Please stand up and welcome our special guest!
- 起返身食返飯啦!Stand up and finish your meal!
Example conversation
Zhiqiang and Meiling are eating at a restaurant.
- 志強 Chi Keung我想去攞啲紙巾，我起身先。ngo5 soeng2 heoi3 lo2 di1 zi2 gan1, ngo5 hei2 san1 sin1.I want to get some tissues, I'll stand up first.
- 美玲 Mei Ling等我一陣，我而家就起身。dang2 ngo5 jat1 zan6, ngo5 ji4 gaa1 zau6 hei2 san1.Wait for me a moment, I'll stand up now.
- 志強 Chi Keung好，咁我哋一齊起身行去攞。hou2, gam2 ngo5 dei6 jat1 cai4 hei2 san1 haang4 heoi3 lo2.Okay, then let's stand up and go get them together.
- 美玲 Mei Ling好，行啦。hou2, haang4 laa1.Okay, let's go.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “stand up” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
