頭 / 头
tau⁴
The English word "head" is translated into Cantonese as 頭 / 头 (tau⁴).
The primary way to refer to the part of the body is 頭 / 头. In a more figurative sense, when referring to a person's intellect or mind, the term 頭腦 is used. Additionally, the character for head is used in the temporal adverb 頭先 to mean "just now" or "a moment ago".
Meaning: part of the body (noun)
Which one should you use?
While 頭 / 头 is the common everyday word for head, the term 頭部 is used specifically in formal or medical anatomical contexts. For figurative use regarding the mind, 頭腦 is the appropriate choice.
How do you pronounce it?
The romanization is tau⁴.
Did you know?
- In traditional Cantonese culture, touching someone's 頭 is often considered an invasive or disrespectful act, as the head is seen as the most sacred part of the body.
- In Cantonese, the word 頭 is used as a classifier for livestock, such as cows or pigs, rather than for people.
- The term 頭等 uses the word for 'head' to mean 'first class', conceptualizing the head as the highest possible rank.
Examples in context
- 佢頭好痛噃！He/she has a bad headache!
Sources
- Wiktionary, “head” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
