折寿 (shé) — to shorten one's life (often used self-deprecatingly to express modesty or guilt over receiving too much kindness)

Definition

A set phrase meaning 'shorten one's life', used hyperbolically and self-deprecatingly when someone gives you too much praise, kindness, or gifts — you say it to show you feel unworthy, not literally.

verb
to shorten one's life (often used self-deprecatingly to express modesty or guilt over receiving too much kindness)

Examples

  • 折寿
    Nín duì wǒ zhè me hǎo, zhēn shì ràng wǒ shé a!
    You're so good to me — it's really making me feel like I'm shortening my life!
  • 折寿
    Chī zhè me duō hǎo dōng xī, wǒ pà shé.
    Eating so many good things, I'm afraid it'll shorten my life.
  • Tā zǒng shuō shòu bù qǐ bié rén de lǐ, pà zhé le shòu.
    He always says he can't accept others' gifts, afraid it would shorten his life.

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