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劲头 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
劲头jìntóuenthusiasmHSK 7, unknown, 12 strokes, rank #25489, Very Hard
劲头jìntóuzealHSK 7, unknown, 12 strokes, rank #25489, Very Hard
劲头jìntóuvigorHSK 7, unknown, 12 strokes, rank #25489, Very Hard
劲头jìntóustrengthHSK 7, unknown, 12 strokes, rank #25489, Very Hard
jìntóu(jin4tou2)jin tou T4
  1. 1enthusiasm
  2. 2zeal
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March 24, 2026

劲头(勁頭)jìntóu(jin4tou2)

劲头 refers to a strong enthusiasm or vigor in doing something. It's often used to describe someone's energetic attitude or motivation, especially when starting a new project or activity. This term conveys a sense of dynamic strength and can be applied in both personal and professional contexts.

Strokes12Frequency#25489DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note

In Chinese culture, enthusiasm and a strong work ethic are highly valued, especially in professional settings. The concept of 劲头 reflects the collective attitude towards diligence and proactive engagement in work and life.

Memory tip

Think of 劲 (jìn) as 'strength' and 头 (tóu) meaning 'head' or 'top.' Imagine a head full of energetic ideas, like a powerful engine revving up. Visualize someone with a strong head start, bursting with enthusiasm, ready to take on challenges.

Meanings of 劲头

jìntóu(jin4tou2)
1enthusiasm
2zeal
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About 劲头

劲头Simplified
勁頭Traditional
12Strokes
—Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7AdvancedCEFRC2

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Podcast: 劲头

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AI study notes for 劲头

Quick Contrast

劲 (jìn) vs 精力 (jīnglì): choose 劲头 (jìntóu) to emphasize enthusiasm or vigor specifically in action, while 精力 (jīnglì) focuses more on overall energy or vitality.

Usage Notes

Be careful not to confuse 劲头 with similar terms that imply mere intensity without enthusiasm. This term is informal and often used in everyday conversations rather than formal writing. Typical collocations include '满劲头' (full of enthusiasm) and '没有劲头' (lack of enthusiasm).

HSK Study Tips

Although 劲头 is not classified in the HSK vocabulary, it complements words related to motivation and energy at the intermediate level. Students should focus on the context in which this term is used, especially in expressions of enthusiasm.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 劲头 with 劲 (strength) alone, which does not imply enthusiasm. For example, saying '他没有劲' (He has no strength) lacks the nuance of enthusiasm that 劲头 provides; the correct phrase would be '他没有劲头' (He has no enthusiasm).

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 劲头

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Component characters

劲jìnstalwart
HSK 77 strokes力
View full entry
头tóuhead
HSK 25 strokes大
View full entry

How to say enthusiasm in Chinese

“enthusiasm” in Chinese is劲头jìntóu

劲头 refers to a strong enthusiasm or vigor in doing something. It's often used to describe someone's energetic attitude or motivation, especially when starting a new project or activity. This term conveys a sense of dynamic strength and can be applied in both personal and professional contexts.

When to use 劲头

Be careful not to confuse 劲头 with similar terms that imply mere intensity without enthusiasm. This term is informal and often used in everyday conversations rather than formal writing. Typical collocations include '满劲头' (full of enthusiasm) and '没有劲头' (lack of enthusiasm).

劲头 or something close to it

劲 (jìn) vs 精力 (jīnglì): choose 劲头 (jìntóu) to emphasize enthusiasm or vigor specifically in action, while 精力 (jīnglì) focuses more on overall energy or vitality.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 劲头 with 劲 (strength) alone, which does not imply enthusiasm. For example, saying '他没有劲' (He has no strength) lacks the nuance of enthusiasm that 劲头 provides; the correct phrase would be '他没有劲头' (He has no enthusiasm).

Write 劲头

劲
头

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Frequently asked questions about 劲头

You can say '他对这个项目充满劲头' (He is full of enthusiasm for this project).

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