Meaning of 低头
Definitions from CC-CEDICT.
- to bow the head
- to yield
- to give in
How to use 低头
低头 is used literally for bowing or looking down, and figuratively for giving in to pressure. It often appears as 向...低头, meaning to yield to someone or something. Example: 他从不向困难低头。(Tā cóng bù xiàng kùnnan dītóu.) He never gives in to difficulties.
低 (dī) means low and 头 (tóu) means head, so 低头 is simply putting your head low. Picture someone lowering their head to read a phone, or lowering it in defeat.
Common mistake: Learners often write 底 (dǐ, bottom) instead of 低 (dī, low) because they look alike. 低 has the person radical 亻 on the left and is first tone. In 低头, 头 keeps its full second tone (tóu). It is not the neutral tone it has in 石头 (shítou) or 木头 (mùtou).
低头 in example sentences
Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.
Stroke order for each character
Open a character for its meaning, components and more words.
低 dī · low · 7 strokes
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
- 7
头 tóu · head · 5 strokes
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
Related words
Words that share a character with 低头.
| 头发 | tóufa | hair (on the head) |
| 里头 | lǐtou | inside; interior |
| 点头 | diǎntóu | to nod |
| 石头 | shítou | stone |
| 头脑 | tóunǎo | brains; mind |
| 木头 | mùtou | wood; log (CL:塊|块[kuai4],根[gen1]); (fig.) blockhead; dolt |
| 老头儿 | lǎotóur | see 老頭子|老头子[lao3 tou2 zi5] |
| 镜头 | jìngtóu | camera lens; camera shot (in a movie etc) |
| 骨头 | gǔtou | bone; moral character |
| 降低 | jiàngdī | to reduce; to lower; to bring down |
| 后头 | hòutou | behind; the back |
| 前头 | qiántou | in front; at the head |
Questions about 低头
What does 低头 mean?
低头 (dītóu) means "to bow the head; to yield".
How do you write 低头?
低头 is made of 2 characters: 低 (7 strokes), 头 (5 strokes). That is 12 strokes in total.
Is 低头 an HSK word?
Yes. 低头 is on the HSK 6 vocabulary list of the HSK 3.0 standard.
How is 低头 written in traditional Chinese?
In traditional characters, 低头 is written 低頭.
What is a 低头族 (dītóu zú)?
低头族 is a modern term for people who are always looking down at their phones. 族 means a group or tribe of people.
Is 低头 the same as bowing to greet someone?
Not exactly. 低头 just means lowering your head. A formal bow is usually 鞠躬 (jūgōng), and a quick nod of agreement is 点头 (diǎntóu).