tau4 mei5頭尾头尾
Jyutpingtau4 mei5
Yaletàuh méih
Definition
From beginning to end; in total, especially when counting a total number of days.
colloquialtimedaily actions
How it's used
Focus on the inclusive nature of this term when calculating durations. It is specifically used to emphasize that both the starting and ending points are included in the count, which is common when discussing travel itineraries or project timelines. It functions as an adverbial phrase to summarize the entire span of an event.
Examples
This matter took a whole month from start to finish.
How many days in total did you spend on your trip?
Related words
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with the literal meaning of head and tail, which refers to the beginning and end of an object. When used for time, it must always imply a total sum rather than just the two ends of a period.
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.
