tau4頭头
Jyutpingtau4
Yaletàuh
Definition
The changed tone of the word for "head" (tau4) used in certain collocations.
colloquialbodydescriptions
How it's used
The character 頭 undergoes a tone change from the original level tone to a high rising tone when it functions as a suffix or part of a compound noun. This shift is a hallmark of natural, fluent speech. It often signals that the word has moved from its literal anatomical meaning to a metaphorical or specialized role.
Examples
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often fail to apply the tone change to 頭 in common compounds like 大頭 or 枕頭, which makes the speech sound stiff or robotic. Always listen for the high rising pitch when native speakers use these common nouns.
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.
