石頭
sek6 tau4
In Cantonese, 'rock' is expressed as 石頭 (sek6 tau4).
The term refers to a large stone or boulder.
Meaning: large stone or boulder (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The word is a compound of 石 (sek6), meaning 'stone' and 頭 (tau4), meaning 'head'. Combining a noun with 頭 is a common way to form nouns for physical objects in Cantonese.
How does it change in a sentence?
When counting rocks, use the classifier 塊 (faai3). For larger or more irregularly shaped rocks and chunks of stone, the classifier 嚿 (gau3) is often used instead.
How do you pronounce it?
sek6 tau4
Did you know?
- The classifier 嚿 (gau3) used for 'rocks' is also used for chunks of meat or pieces of soap, focusing on the 'lumpy' nature of the object rather than its material.
- Cantonese speakers use 石 in the term 石室 to describe a 'stone room', which historically refers to specific types of ancient tombs found in Southern China.
- The character 石 is a pictograph that originally depicted a stone resting on a cliff or a piece of rock with a smaller fragment beside it.
Examples in context
- 佢抌咗塊石頭落個池度。He threw a rock into the pond.The sentence shows how to use the form 石頭 when describing an action involving a rock.Tatoeba #595087 by nickyeow, translation #466914 by CK
- 我鍾意喺沙灘度收集岩石。I love collecting rocks from the beach.
- 呢座山主要係由石頭組成。That mountain is primarily composed of rocks.
- Peter就係咁頑固，好似塊石頭咁。Peter is as stubborn as a rock.
- 呢度有一嚿大石頭。ni1 dou6 jau5 jat1 kung3 daai6 sek6 tau2.There is a large rock here.
Example conversation
The two friends are walking in a park.
- 子健 Tsz Kin嘉欣，睇吓嗰嚿大石頭！kaai1 hei1, tai2 haa5 go2 kung3 daai6 sek6 tau2!Ka hei, look at that big rock!
- 嘉欣 Ka Yan好大呀，子健。hou2 daai6 aa3, zi2 gin6.It's so big, Zi gin.
- 子健 Tsz Kin我哋可以坐喺上面。ngo5 dei6 ho2 ji5 co5 hai2 soeng6 seeng6.We can sit on it.
- 嘉欣 Ka Yan好呀，行過去啦。hou2 aa3, haang4 gwo3 heoi3 laa1.Okay, let's walk over there.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
