maai4 tau4 maai4 nou5埋頭埋腦埋头埋脑
Jyutpingmaai4 tau4 maai4 nou5
Yalemàaih tàuh màaih nóuh
Definition
To immerse oneself deeply in a task with total concentration.
colloquialdaily actionswork
How it's used
This expression vividly describes someone who is so absorbed in a task that they seem to have their head physically tucked into their work. It carries a slightly critical or concerned tone, often implying that the person is neglecting their surroundings, social life, or physical health. It is most commonly used for tasks like studying, writing, or office work.
Examples
Related words
Common phrases
buried in work
buried in books/studying
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- Aspect markersCantonese has no tenses, but it does have aspect markers. Learn how zo2, gwo3, gan2, and hai2 dou6 show completion, experience, and ongoing action.
- 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.
