wui4 tau4回頭回头

Jyutpingwui4 tau4

Yalewùih tàuh

動詞Common

Definition

To turn one's head; to look back, or to come to one's senses.

to turn one's head or turn around
figurativeto come to one's senses; to repent

colloquialdaily actions

How it's used

While literally meaning to turn one's head, this term is frequently used metaphorically to describe someone realizing their mistakes and changing their path. It carries a sense of reflection or correcting a course of action. In casual speech, people often prefer the more direct phrasal verb 擰轉頭 when referring to the physical act of turning one's head.

Examples

nei5你haang4行co3錯lou6路laa3喇，faai3快di1啲wui4回tau4頭laa1啦。

You are going the wrong way, turn back quickly.

keoi5佢hong4行hong4行haa5下dat6突jin4然wui4回tau4頭mong6望ngo5我。

He suddenly turned his head to look at me while walking.

Common phrases

wui4回tau4頭si6是ngon6岸

it is never too late to repent

wui4回tau4頭mong6望

to look back

Common mistake

Do not confuse this with the Mandarin usage where it can mean 'later' or 'sometime soon'. In Cantonese, it almost exclusively refers to the physical act of turning back or the metaphorical act of repenting.