hou2 ji3 tau4好意頭好意头

Jyutpinghou2 ji3 tau4

Yalehóu yi tàuh

形容詞

Definition

Auspicious, lucky, or presenting a good omen.

colloquialfestivaldescriptions

How it's used

Refers specifically to things that symbolize good fortune or prosperity, often used in the context of food, names, or gifts during celebrations. It implies a cultural preference for homophones or symbols that sound like positive concepts such as wealth or longevity. People often choose items or actions based on whether they are considered to have a good meaning rather than their actual utility.

Examples

ni1呢go3個ming4名hou2好ji3意tau4頭，teng1聽lok6落hou2好seon6順ji5耳。

This name is auspicious, it sounds very pleasant.

gwo3過nin4年maai5買di1啲gam1柑baai2擺uk1屋kei2企，taam1貪keoi5佢hou2好ji3意tau4頭aa4呀。

Buying mandarin oranges for the New Year is just for good luck.

Common phrases

lo2攞go3個hou2好ji3意tau4頭

to do something for good luck

gei2幾hou2好ji3意tau4頭

quite auspicious

Common mistake

Do not confuse this with the adjective 吉利, which is more formal and literary. Use 好意頭 when speaking naturally about daily life, such as explaining why you chose a specific gift or a lucky number.