m4 hou2 ji3 tau4唔好意頭唔好意头
Jyutpingm4 hou2 ji3 tau4
Yalem̀h hóu yi tàuh
Definition
Unlucky, inauspicious, or bringing bad luck.
colloquialother
How it's used
Refers to something that carries an unlucky or ominous implication, often related to homophones or cultural taboos. It is frequently used during festivals like Lunar New Year when people are particularly sensitive to words that sound like death, poverty, or separation. The term functions as an adjective phrase to describe an object, name, or action that brings negative vibes.
Examples
This name sounds like it has a bad connotation.
Related words
Common phrases
to say something unlucky
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with the adjective 唔好, which simply means bad or not good. 唔好意頭 specifically refers to symbolic or superstitious bad luck, not the quality or performance of something.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- In 30 secondsThe whole language at a glance. No tenses, no plurals, six tones, sentence particles. Read this before you dive into any specific topic.
- ParticlesSentence particles add tone, emotion, and nuance. Learn the most common particles in Cantonese and how to use them.
- Possession (嘅)How to say my, your, and his, and how to link a describing word to a noun, all with the little word 嘅 (ge3).
