zaam2 tau4斬頭斩头
Jyutpingzaam2 tau4
Yalejáam tàuh
Definition
To behead or decapitate.
colloquialother
How it's used
Refers specifically to the act of execution by cutting off the head, carrying a very brutal and historical tone. It is rarely used in modern contexts outside of historical discussions, period dramas, or metaphorical descriptions of extreme punishment. Unlike the more formal or literary terms, this phrasing is direct and visceral.
Examples
In the past, people who committed serious crimes would be beheaded.
Do you know which ancient dynasty still used beheading as a punishment?
Related words
Common mistake
Avoid using this to describe accidental injuries or minor cuts, as it specifically implies a deliberate, lethal act of execution. Do not confuse it with general terms for cutting like 斬開, which is used for food or objects.
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.
