Meaning of 后头
Definitions from CC-CEDICT.
- behind
- the back
- the rear
- later
- afterwards
- (in) the future
How to use 后头
后头 works like 后边 (hòubian) or 后面 (hòumiàn) for location, and it is common in casual spoken Chinese, especially in northern China. It can also mean later on, as in 好戏还在后头 (the best is yet to come). Example: 他就坐在我后头。 (Tā jiù zuò zài wǒ hòutou.) He is sitting right behind me.
后 (hòu) means behind or after, and 头 (tou) here is a light suffix that turns a direction word into a place noun, like the 头 in 前头 (qiántou). Picture the back end of a line: 后头 is the spot behind you.
Common mistake: Learners often say 头 with a full second tone (tóu) here, but in 后头 it is neutral (hòutou). Also, for "afterwards" in telling a story, 后来 (hòulái) is the natural choice, not 后头.
后头 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.
后 hòu · back · 6 strokes
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
头 tóu · head · 5 strokes
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
Related words
Words that share a character with 后头.
| 最后 | zuìhòu | final; last; ultimate; finally; in the end |
| 后天 | hòutiān | the day after tomorrow; life after birth (the period in which one develops through experie |
| 后边 | hòubian | the back; the rear; the last bit; behind; near the end; at the back |
| 然后 | ránhòu | then; after that; afterwards |
| 以后 | yǐhòu | after; later |
| 后来 | hòulái | afterwards; later; newly arrived |
| 头发 | tóufa | hair (on the head) |
| 今后 | jīnhòu | hereafter; henceforth |
| 里头 | lǐtou | inside; interior |
| 点头 | diǎntóu | to nod |
| 后面 | hòumiàn | the back; the rear; the last bit; behind; near the end; at the back |
| 石头 | shítou | stone |
Questions about 后头
What does 后头 mean?
后头 (hòutou) means "behind; the back" and is used as a noun.
How do you write 后头?
后头 is made of 2 characters: 后 (6 strokes), 头 (5 strokes). That is 11 strokes in total.
Is 后头 an HSK word?
Yes. 后头 is on the HSK 4 vocabulary list of the HSK 3.0 standard.
How is 后头 written in traditional Chinese?
In traditional characters, 后头 is written 後頭.
What is the difference between 后头, 后边, and 后面?
All three can mean "behind" or "the back." 后面 is the most neutral and works in speech and writing. 后边 and 后头 sound more colloquial, and 后头 has a stronger northern flavor.
How do I say "behind something" with 后头?
Put the thing first, then 后头: 房子后头 (fángzi hòutou), behind the house. You can add 的 for a little formality, as in 房子的后头, but it is often left out.