fo2 ce1 tau4火車頭火车头

Jyutpingfo2 ce1 tau4

Yalefó chē tàuh

名詞

Definition

A locomotive, a smoking pedestrian, or a type of Vietnamese beef phở.

train engine; locomotive
figurativea person who smokes while walking on the street
Vietnamese beef phở noodle soup

colloquialfoodtransport

How it's used

The term is a classic example of Cantonese wordplay where a technical term for a locomotive is repurposed for everyday life. Using it to describe a smoker is slightly derogatory, highlighting the trail of smoke they leave behind like a steam engine. When referring to food, it specifically points to the hearty, all-inclusive bowl of beef noodles found in Vietnamese restaurants.

Measure word

go3個go

Examples

nei5你tai2睇haa6下cin4前min6面go2嗰go3個fo2火ce1車tau4頭，bin1邊haang4行bin1邊sik6食jin1煙zan1真hai6係hou2好mou2冇gung1公dak1德sam1心。

Look at that person smoking while walking ahead, it is really inconsiderate.

gam1今jat6日hou2好soeng2想sik6食jyut6越naam4南je5嘢，bat1不jyu4如heoi3去sik6食wun2碗fo2火ce1車tau4頭laa1啦。

I really want to eat Vietnamese food today, why don't we go have a bowl of phở?

Common phrases

sik6食fo2火ce1車tau4頭

to eat a bowl of Vietnamese beef phở

Common mistake

Be careful not to use this to describe a train itself in a formal or technical context, as it is primarily a colloquialism. When ordering food, ensure the context is clear so people do not think you are referring to a smoker.