gwat6 tau4 hong2掘頭巷掘头巷
Jyutpinggwat6 tau4 hong2
Yalegwaht tàuh hóng
Definition
Dead-end alley; a lane or alleyway with no other exit.
colloquialplaces
How it's used
This term is frequently used metaphorically to describe a situation where one has reached a point of no progress or has no further options. While it literally refers to a physical space, locals often apply it to career paths or personal projects that have hit a wall. It carries a slightly more vivid and descriptive tone than simply saying there is no way out.
Measure word
tiu4條tìuhExamples
This is a dead-end alley; you have to turn back after going in.
Related words
Common phrases
to walk into a dead-end alley
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with 掘頭路, which is a broader term for any dead-end road or street, whereas 掘頭巷 specifically implies a narrow, alley-like passage.
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.
