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降头

English translation: Gong Tau or "Tame Head (magic)"

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
Chinese term or phrase:降头
English translation:Gong Tau or "Tame Head (magic)"
Entered by: Gary Key

13:00 Jan 15, 2006
Chinese to English translations [PRO]
Art/Literary - General / Conversation / Greetings / Letters
Chinese term or phrase: 降头
下降头

I think it's some kind of black magic practised in South East Asia. Is there a more specific name for this? Thanks.
Sara Pasello
Local time: 06:12
Gong Tau or "Tame Head (magic)"
Explanation:
I found lots of references to Gong Tau, the Cantonese version of the name or "Tame Head (Magic)".


Many references to a Cantonese film of the same name:
降头 外文名：Gong tau（Black Magic）（Tame Head）（Xiang tou） 国家：中国香港出品
年代：1975 导演：何梦华演员：罗烈、狄龙、谷峰、李丽丽、恬妮片长：91分钟花絮：收录
包括《降头》在内的5部邵氏影片的预告片。图片库、原装海报、电影简介、演员 ...
www.only4movie.com/html/dvd0001738.htm
Selected response from:

Gary Key
United Kingdom
Local time: 06:12
Grading comment
3 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
5 +1Cast a (evil) spell on someone
albertdeng
3 +2Gong Tau or "Tame Head (magic)"
Gary Key
4 +1Why not just "curse" or "spell"
billychang


Discussion entries: 1





  

Answers


8 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): +2
降头
Gong Tau or "Tame Head (magic)"


Explanation:
I found lots of references to Gong Tau, the Cantonese version of the name or "Tame Head (Magic)".


Many references to a Cantonese film of the same name:
降头 外文名：Gong tau（Black Magic）（Tame Head）（Xiang tou） 国家：中国香港出品
年代：1975 导演：何梦华演员：罗烈、狄龙、谷峰、李丽丽、恬妮片长：91分钟花絮：收录
包括《降头》在内的5部邵氏影片的预告片。图片库、原装海报、电影简介、演员 ...
www.only4movie.com/html/dvd0001738.htm

Gary Key
United Kingdom
Local time: 06:12
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 14

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Xiaoping Fu
9 hrs
  -> Thank you!
agree  Denyce Seow: My family uses the term "Gong Tau" so I thought it was Hokkein. Didn't know it is Cantonese. "Black magic" might be the term Sara needs.
20 hrs
  -> Thanks, yes, I think "black magic" would do unless a specific term is needed
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

11 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +1
降头
Why not just "curse" or "spell"


Explanation:
..

billychang
Local time: 00:12
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish, Native in ChineseChinese
PRO pts in category: 20

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Denyce Seow: "Curse" and "spell" work too, but I think "black magic" might be more suitable. "Jiang tou" is a reeeeeeeeeeeeally scary thing. We hear about that a lot in Singapore. Indeed common in countries like Thailand, Malaysia and other SEA countries.
8 hrs
  -> Thanks. I remember something like don't let them get hold of your hairIisn't it hair raising?) Just like voodoo from the Caribbean.
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14 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 5/5 peer agreement (net): +1
Cast a (evil) spell on someone


Explanation:
下降头is common in South East Asia. However, it is up to you to believe in its power not.

albertdeng
New Zealand
Local time: 17:12
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in ChineseChinese
PRO pts in category: 4

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  tb1668: Does it still happening these days in Mainland China? Suspect a friend's husband is sufferings from this Gong Tau cursed by the china whore!! Her friend's husband worked in Singapore n recently, she found out that he always traveling to Shenzhen so often
2222 days
  -> To tell you the truth, few people in Mainland China know what Gong Tau is. I have never heard of such a spell being cast in China. What happens to your friend, even if it is true, is quite common in China today. Cheap and faraway ...
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