sau2首
Jyutpingsau2
Yalesáu
Definition
Head; the physical upper part of the body.
neutralbody
How it's used
While 首 is a formal morpheme used in compound words like 首都 or 首席, it is almost never used in spoken Cantonese to refer to the body part. Instead, 頭 is the standard word for head in daily life. Using 首 in casual conversation will sound overly literary or like a Mandarin loanword.
Related words
Common mistake
Do not use 首 to refer to the physical head of a person or animal, as it is strictly reserved for formal or abstract contexts. Always use 頭 for the body part.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- Directional complementsThe small words added after a verb to show direction of movement, like up, down, out, in, and back. Common in everyday Cantonese.
- DemonstrativesThis and that with 呢 and 嗰, the personal pronouns, and how 哋 turns I, you, and he into we, you all, and they.
- Resultative complementsSticking a result word onto a verb to show how it turned out, like eat until full or look and find. A productive everyday pattern.
