呢頭...嗰頭...

No Sooner...than...

Level 4Sounds Like ne1 tau4 . . . go2 tau4 . . .

Use 呢頭...嗰頭... (ni1 tau4... go2 tau4...) to describe two actions that happen in quick succession, usually with a tone of complaint or irony because the second action contradicts the first.

How It Works

The pattern 呢頭...嗰頭... (nei1 tau4... go2 tau4...) is a staple of colloquial Cantonese. While the words literally mean 'this head/side' and 'that head/side', in this context, they are strictly temporal.

Key features include:

  • Register: It is highly informal and spoken. You will rarely see this in formal written Cantonese documents.
  • Subject Placement: The subject usually precedes the first marker (e.g., 佢呢頭... 嗰頭...). However, if the two clauses have different subjects, each subject precedes its respective marker (e.g., 我呢頭執完，你嗰頭又整亂).
  • Nuance: It almost always carries a sense of exasperation, irony, or futility. It is not used for neutral sequences (like 'I ate, then I slept'). Instead, it is used when the second action negates the first (e.g., 'I just cleaned, and now it's dirty again').
  • Common Adverbs: The second clause (嗰頭) is almost always paired with 又 (jau6 - again) or 就 (zau6 - then) to emphasize the immediate repetition or contradiction.
  • Structure: [Subject] 呢頭 [Clause A], [Subject] 嗰頭 [Clause B].

Examples (4)

  1. 佢呢頭話要減肥，嗰頭又喺度食雪糕。

    One minute she says she wants to lose weight, the next she's eating ice cream.

    Word by Word: He this side say want lose weight, that side again at here eat ice cream.

    This shows the classic ironic use where the second action (eating ice cream) contradicts the first (wanting to lose weight). It uses 喺度 to show the ongoing action.

  2. 啲細路呢頭執完屋，嗰頭又整亂晒。

    The kids no sooner finish tidying the house than they make a total mess again.

    Word by Word: Those kids this side tidy-finish house, that side again make messy all.

    Here, 完 shows the completion of tidying, while 晒 emphasizes the total mess that follows immediately.

  3. 佢呢頭應承咗我，嗰頭就唔認數。

    One moment he promised me, the next he went back on his word.

    Word by Word: He this side promise-already me, that side then not recognize count.

    Uses 咗 to show the promise was made, followed by an immediate reversal of attitude.

  4. 呢頭仲係好天，嗰頭就落大雨。

    One moment it was fine weather, the next it's raining cats and dogs.

    Word by Word: This side still is good sky, that side then fall big rain.

    Used to describe the fickle nature of weather, implying the change was sudden and unexpected.

Common Mistakes

  • Using the pattern for neutral, non-contradictory sequences.

    Different Meaning我呢頭食早餐，嗰頭去返工。
    我食完早餐就去返工。

    Unless you are complaining that you have to work immediately after eating, 呢頭...嗰頭... sounds strange here. For simple 'A then B' sequences, use V完...就... instead.

  • Omitting the adverb 又 (jau6) or 就 (zau6) in the second clause.

    Different Meaning佢呢頭話去，嗰頭話唔去。
    佢呢頭話去，嗰頭又話唔去。

    While not strictly ungrammatical, omitting the adverb makes the sentence feel 'naked' and less natural to native speakers, as the adverb reinforces the sense of a repetitive flip-flop.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

呢頭...嗰頭...Level 4No Sooner...than...

Learn This First

The pattern '呢頭...嗰頭...' uses the demonstratives 'this' and 'that' combined with the noun 'head' (頭) to metaphorically represent two different sides or moments. To understand it, you need to be familiar with basic demonstratives and how Cantonese links two clauses together to show contrast or quick succession.