头 (tou) - Meaning, Stroke Order, Words & Examples

Q: What does 头 (tou) mean in Chinese?

The Chinese character 头 (tou) means "head". It is an HSK Level 2 character, with 5 strokes and the radical 大.

Q: How do you write 头 stroke by stroke?

头 has 5 strokes. The radical is 大. Follow the standard stroke order: top to bottom, left to right, outside before inside. Practice with stroke animation to build muscle memory.

Q: What's the difference between 头 and 买?

头 (tou) and 买 look similar but differ in meaning and usage. Check the radical and stroke count to tell them apart.

Q: What mistakes do learners make writing 头?

Common mistake: incorrect stroke order or miswriting the radical 大. Pay attention to the proportion between components — keep the radical compact.

Q: What common words use 头?

Common words containing 头 include: 头发 (tóu fà) — hair (on the head); 头疼 (tóu téng) — headache; 抬头 (tái tóu) — to raise one's head.

How to Write 头

The character 头 (tou) is written with 5 strokes. Follow the standard Chinese stroke order: top to bottom, left to right, outside before inside. The radical 大 is one of its key components.

Practice the correct stroke order with the Hanzi Writer app to see animated stroke-by-stroke guidance with real-time feedback.

Meaning & Pronunciation

头 is pronounced tou in Mandarin Chinese. It means head.

This is a polyphonic character with readings: tou, tóu.

As an HSK Level 2 character, 头 is among the first characters beginners learn.

Common Words with 头

头发 tóu fà

hair (on the head)

头疼 tóu téng

headache

抬头 tái tóu

to raise one's head

木头 mù tou

wood

Example Sentences

我的头发很长。

wǒ de tóu fà hěn zhǎng

My hair is very long.

我今天有点头疼。

wǒ jīn tiān yǒu diǎn tóu téng

I have a bit of a headache today.

请大家抬头看黑板。

qǐng dà jiā tái tóu kàn hēi bǎn

Everyone, please look up at the blackboard.

这块木头可以用来做家具。

zhè kuài mù tou kě yǐ yòng lái zuò jiā jù

This piece of wood can be used to make furniture.

Similar Characters

买 mǎi

大 dà

天 tiān

Practice Writing 头 (tou)

Open Hanzi Writer to see the animated stroke order and practice writing 头 with real-time feedback.

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Frequently Asked Questions about 头

What does 头 (tou) mean in Chinese?

How do you write 头 stroke by stroke?

What's the difference between 头 and 买?

What mistakes do learners make writing 头?

What common words use 头?

How to Write 头 (tou)