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头号 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
头号tóuhàofirst rateHSK 7, unknown, 10 strokes, rank #5228, Very Hard
头号tóuhàotop rankHSK 7, unknown, 10 strokes, rank #5228, Very Hard
头号tóuhàonumber oneHSK 7, unknown, 10 strokes, rank #5228, Very Hard
tóuhào(tou2hao4)tou hao T2
  1. 1first rate
  2. 2top rank
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March 24, 2026

头号(頭號)tóuhào(tou2hao4)

头号 (tóuhào) literally means 'number one' and is commonly used to indicate something of the highest quality or rank. It can refer to a person, item, or idea that is considered the best in a particular category, often used in contexts such as competitions or evaluations.

Strokes10Frequency#5228DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note

In Chinese culture, being labeled as 头号 often signifies a prestigious status or recognition, such as in sports or the entertainment industry. For example, a 头号明星 (tóuhào míngxīng) would be a top celebrity, reflecting societal values on achievement and success.

Memory tip

Imagine a giant number one (1) with a head (头) wearing a crown, signifying it is the top or first in line. The character 头 (tóu) means 'head,' and 合 (hào) sounds like 'hao,' which you can remember as 'how great' this number one is.

Meanings of 头号

tóuhào(tou2hao4)
1first rate
2top rank
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About 头号

头号Simplified
頭號Traditional
10Strokes
—Radical
形容词xíngróngcíadjective (adj.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7AdvancedCEFRC2

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Podcast: 头号

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AI study notes for 头号

Quick Contrast

头等 (tóuděng) - use 头号 for the highest rank or quality, while 头等 can imply a high standard but not necessarily the top position.

Usage Notes

头号 is often used in both formal and informal contexts, but it tends to be more common in spoken language. Be cautious with the tone; using the wrong tone can lead to misunderstandings, such as confusing 头 (tóu) with 头 (tóu) meaning 'head' instead of 'first.' Common collocations include 头号人物 (tóuhào rénwù) meaning 'number one person' or 'top figure.'

HSK Study Tips

While 头号 is not explicitly listed in HSK vocabulary, it connects well to HSK level 3 and above words related to rankings and qualities. Students should focus on understanding its usage in comparisons and superlatives, as it enhances descriptive language skills.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 头号 with similar phrases like 头条 (tóutiáo), which means 'headline' or 'top news.' Remember that 头号 specifically refers to ranking. Another common mistake is using the wrong tones, such as saying tóuhāo instead of tóuhào.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 头号

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Component characters

头tóuhead
HSK 25 strokes大
View full entry
号hàoordinal number
HSK 15 strokes口
View full entry

How to say first rate in Chinese

“first rate” in Chinese is头号tóuhào

头号 (tóuhào) literally means 'number one' and is commonly used to indicate something of the highest quality or rank. It can refer to a person, item, or idea that is considered the best in a particular category, often used in contexts such as competitions or evaluations.

When to use 头号

头号 is often used in both formal and informal contexts, but it tends to be more common in spoken language. Be cautious with the tone; using the wrong tone can lead to misunderstandings, such as confusing 头 (tóu) with 头 (tóu) meaning 'head' instead of 'first.' Common collocations include 头号人物 (tóuhào rénwù) meaning 'number one person' or 'top figure.'

头号 or something close to it

头等 (tóuděng) - use 头号 for the highest rank or quality, while 头等 can imply a high standard but not necessarily the top position.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 头号 with similar phrases like 头条 (tóutiáo), which means 'headline' or 'top news.' Remember that 头号 specifically refers to ranking. Another common mistake is using the wrong tones, such as saying tóuhāo instead of tóuhào.

Write 头号

头
号

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Frequently asked questions about 头号

Yes, it can describe people, products, or ideas that are considered the best or top-ranked in any context.

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