nou5 doi2腦袋脑袋
Jyutpingnou5 doi2
Yalenóuh dói
Definition
The brain or the head.
- brain; mind
- head
colloquialbody
How it's used
While 腦袋 is understood, it is significantly less common in daily Cantonese than the simple term 頭 or the more specific 腦. It often carries a slightly literary or dramatic flair, making it sound more emphatic or even mocking when used in casual speech. Using it in everyday conversation can make you sound like you are quoting a movie or being intentionally sarcastic.
Measure word
go3個goExamples
His brain is always thinking of weird things.
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often use 腦袋 as a direct translation for brain in all contexts, but native speakers prefer 頭 when referring to the physical head or the general concept of intelligence. Using 腦袋 to describe a physical injury or a headache sounds unnatural compared to simply saying 頭痛.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
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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.
