歌
go¹
The Cantonese word for song is 歌 (go¹).
歌 refers to music with words.
Meaning: music with words (noun)
Which one should you use?
While 歌 is the standard everyday term, 歌曲 is used to refer to a song or a musical composition in a more formal or literary context.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
When counting songs, you must use the classifier 首 between the number and 歌, forming the structure 首歌 (one song/a song). To express the action of singing a song, the verb-object construction 唱歌 is commonly used, combining the verb 唱 (to sing) with the noun 歌.
How do you pronounce it?
go¹
Did you know?
- Cantonese pop music, known as 'Cantopop', uses the tonal nature of the language to create melodies that follow the natural pitch of the spoken words to avoid changing the meaning of the lyrics.
- When people talk about 'Karaoke' in Cantonese, they often use the phrase 唱K (chant K), treating the letter 'K' as a shorthand for the entire activity of singing songs.
- The classifier 首 used for 歌 originally referred to the 'head' or 'beginning' of a poem, reflecting the historical overlap between poetry and song in Chinese culture.
Examples in context
- 我哋夠時間唱多一首歌。We have time to sing one more song.This sentence is useful for practicing the use of the classifier in 首歌.Tatoeba #5761071 by nickyeow, translation #5760178 by CK
- 我次次聽呢首歌都會聽到喊。Every time I listen to this song, I cry.This sentence shows how to refer to a specific song using 歌.Tatoeba #676270 by nickyeow, translation #676269 by MondCivitano
- 你寫呢首歌嘅靈感喺邊到嚟㗎？What inspired you to write this song?This sentence demonstrates how to ask about the inspiration for a song using 歌.Tatoeba #6118386 by nickyeow, translation #6118385 by nickyeow
- 大家唱首歌。Let's all sing a song.
- 我好鍾意唱歌。I really enjoy singing songs.
- 13 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Two friends are talking about a new song on the radio.
- 曉彤 Hiu Tung你聽過呢首歌未？nei5 ting1 gwo3 ni1 sau2 go1 mei6?Have you heard this song yet?
- 俊傑 Chun Kit未呀，係邊首歌？mei6 aa3, hai6 bin1 sau2 go1?Not yet, which song is it?
- 曉彤 Hiu Tung係而家電台播緊嗰首歌。hai6 ji4 gaa3 din6 toi4 bo3 gan2 go2 sau2 go1.It's the song playing on the radio right now.
- 俊傑 Chun Kit唔錯喎，呢首歌好好聽。m4 co3 wo3, ni1 sau2 go1 hou2 hou2 teng1.Not bad, this song sounds great.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “song” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
