nominal suffix (neutral tone)

Stroke order

How it's used

As tóu it means head or end of something. Functions as a measure word for large animals: 一头牛 (one cow). Also forms compounds like 头疼 (headache).

As a suffix, tou loses its tone (neutral syllable) and attaches to position words: 里头 (inside), 外头 (outside), 上头 (above), 下头 (below).

Example sentences

里头 lǐ tou 有 yǒu 人 rén

There is someone inside.

我 wǒ 头 tóu 疼 téng

I have a headache.

外头 wài tou 很 hěn 冷 lěng

It is cold outside.

他 tā 的 de 头 tóu 很 hěn 大 dà

His head is big.

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