Meaning of 码头
Definitions from CC-CEDICT.
- wharf; dock; quay; pier
How to use 码头
码头 is the everyday word for a dock or pier where boats load, unload, or pick up passengers. It often takes the measure word 个 (gè) or 座 (zuò). Example: 我们在码头等船。(Wǒmen zài mǎtóu děng chuán.) We are waiting for the boat at the pier.
码 (mǎ) has 石 (shí, stone) on the left, so picture stones stacked up at the water's edge. Add 头 (tóu, head or end) and you get the stone end of the land where boats tie up: a wharf.
Common mistake: Learners often confuse 码 (mǎ) with 马 (mǎ, horse) or 妈 (mā, mother) because they share the same sound part. Only 码 has the stone radical 石 on the left. Also note that 头 is often said in the neutral tone here, so mǎtou is common in speech.
Stroke order for each character
Open a character for its meaning, components and more words.
码 mǎ · agate · 8 strokes
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
- 7
- 8
头 tóu · head · 5 strokes
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
Related words
Words that share a character with 码头.
| 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] |
| 号码 | hàomǎ | number |
| 密码 | mìmǎ | cipher; secret code; password; PIN |
| 镜头 | jìngtóu | camera lens; camera shot (in a movie etc) |
| 骨头 | gǔtou | bone; moral character |
| 后头 | hòutou | behind; the back |
Questions about 码头
What does 码头 mean?
码头 (mǎtóu) means "wharf; dock; quay; pier" and is used as a noun.
How do you write 码头?
码头 is made of 2 characters: 码 (8 strokes), 头 (5 strokes). That is 13 strokes in total.
Is 码头 an HSK word?
Yes. 码头 is on the HSK 5 vocabulary list of the HSK 3.0 standard.
How is 码头 written in traditional Chinese?
In traditional characters, 码头 is written 碼頭.
What is the difference between 码头 and 港口?
港口 (gǎngkǒu) means a whole port or harbor area. 码头 is the specific dock or pier inside it where ships actually stop.
Does 码头 have any figurative meaning?
Yes. In some regions 码头 can mean a commercial hub or trading city, and 拜码头 (bài mǎtóu) means to pay respects to the local powerful people when arriving somewhere new.