nou5 hoi2腦海脑海
Jyutpingnou5 hoi2
Yalenóuh hói
Definition
One's mind, thoughts, or consciousness.
neutralbodypeople
How it's used
Refers specifically to the mental space where memories, thoughts, or images reside. It is almost always used with the preposition 喺 or 入面 to indicate where something is happening. Unlike 心, which often deals with feelings or intentions, 腦海 focuses on cognitive processes like recall or imagination.
Measure word
go3個goExamples
His face keeps appearing in my mind.
What is going on in your mind?
Related words
Common phrases
to emerge in one's mind
mind goes blank
Common mistake
Avoid using it as a direct synonym for brain as a physical organ, which is 腦. It is strictly a metaphorical space for mental activity.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- QuestionsFrom yes or no questions to asking who, what, where, and when. The patterns you need to ask questions naturally in Cantonese.
- ClassifiersCantonese puts a classifier between a number and a noun, and a bare classifier on its own can mean the. Learn the common ones and how to use them.
- ComparisonsHow to say bigger than, the most, the same as, and not as good as. Cantonese uses 過 where Mandarin uses 比, and that catches a lot of learners out.
