loi4 tau4來頭来头
Jyutpingloi4 tau4
Yalelòih tàuh
Definition
Background, origin, or connections.
colloquialpeople
How it's used
Focuses on the prestige or influence behind someone's identity rather than just their history. It is frequently used to imply that someone has powerful backing or a mysterious, high-status origin that commands respect or fear. When someone asks about a person's 來頭, they are often probing for hidden power or connections.
Examples
Do you know what kind of background that person has?
His background is really impressive, don't offend him carelessly.
Related words
Common phrases
to have a very powerful background
what kind of background
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with 來歷, which is more neutral and simply refers to where someone or something came from. 來頭 carries a specific connotation of social weight or influential backing.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- LocationHow to say where something is using 喺 (hai2), place words like 度, and the common coverbs that work like English prepositions.
- Serial verbsStringing two or more verbs together without any joining word, like go to the shop buy things. Extremely common in Cantonese.
- 將 disposalHow to move the object in front of the verb with 將, to focus on what happens to it. Common in instructions and writing.
