daap3 dai1 tau4耷低頭耷低头
Jyutpingdaap3 dai1 tau4
Yaledaap dāi tàuh
Definition
To hang or lower one's head, indicating unhappiness, dejection, or shyness.
- to hang one's head due to negative emotions such as sadness or dejection
- to lower one's head to avoid something, often due to shyness
colloquialemotionbody
How it's used
Focuses on the physical posture of looking down to convey a state of low spirits or lack of confidence. While it can describe someone who is simply shy or avoiding eye contact, it is most frequently used to describe a person who is visibly defeated or lacking energy. It carries a stronger sense of internal emotional state compared to just looking at the ground.
Examples
Why are you hanging your head? Are you unhappy?
He walked in with his head down, looking quite dejected.
Related words
Common phrases
walking with one's head down
hanging one's head and staying silent
Common mistake
Do not use this to describe someone looking down at an object or a phone, as that is a neutral action. It specifically implies a mood or an emotional state of being downcast.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- QuestionsFrom yes or no questions to asking who, what, where, and when. The patterns you need to ask questions naturally in Cantonese.
- ClassifiersCantonese puts a classifier between a number and a noun, and a bare classifier on its own can mean the. Learn the common ones and how to use them.
- ComparisonsHow to say bigger than, the most, the same as, and not as good as. Cantonese uses 過 where Mandarin uses 比, and that catches a lot of learners out.
