Skip to content
Stroke order, etymology and audio for every word.Start learning
甜头 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
甜头tiántousweet taste (of power, success etc)HSK 7, unknown, 16 strokes, rank #13168, Very Hard
甜头tiántoubenefitHSK 7, unknown, 16 strokes, rank #13168, Very Hard
tiántou(tian2tou5)tian tou T2
  1. 1sweet taste (of power, success etc)
  2. 2benefit
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

甜头(甜頭)tiántou(tian2tou5)

甜头 (tián tóu) refers to a sweet taste or benefit, often used metaphorically to describe the pleasurable rewards of success or power. It is commonly used in contexts where one enjoys the benefits of hard work or strategic actions, highlighting the positive outcomes that can be derived from a situation.

Strokes16Frequency#13168DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note

In Chinese culture, enjoying the sweet benefits of success is often celebrated in stories and sayings, reflecting the value placed on hard work leading to rewarding outcomes. This concept is prevalent in discussions about personal achievements and societal contributions.

Memory tip

Imagine biting into a delicious, sweet candy that represents the 'sweet taste' of success. The character 甜 (tián) looks like a person enjoying sweetness, while 头 (tóu) resembles a head, symbolizing the notion that the sweetness is often at the forefront of one's experiences or achievements.

Meanings of 甜头

tiántou(tian2tou5)
1sweet taste (of power, success etc)
2benefit
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

Play it, then pick what 甜头 means.

About 甜头

甜头Simplified
甜頭Traditional
16Strokes
—Radical
#—Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7AdvancedCEFRC2

Podcast: 甜头

JasonAmy

Podcast: 甜头

Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you

AI study notes for 甜头

Quick Contrast

好处 (hǎochù) - use 甜头 when emphasizing the pleasurable aspect of benefits, while 好处 is more neutral.

Usage Notes

Be aware that 甜头 is typically used in informal contexts and may not be suitable for formal writing. Common collocations include phrases like ‘获得甜头’ (huò dé tián tóu - to reap benefits). A common mistake is confusing it with 甜味 (tián wèi), which refers strictly to the taste of sweetness, not the metaphorical sense.

HSK Study Tips

While 甜头 is not an official HSK word, it connects to basic vocabulary related to taste and benefits. Students at this level should focus on recognizing how taste can be used metaphorically in Mandarin, as this enriches their understanding of language nuances.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 甜头 with similar phrases like ‘甜蜜’ (tián mì - sweet and lovely) or use it inappropriately in formal contexts. For example, saying '我喜欢甜头的事情' (I like sweet things) is incorrect; it should be used to refer to benefits rather than literal sweetness.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 甜头

Premium — Locked

Tone practice

Pro

Drill the tone of 甜头, say it back, see your pitch against the model voice, and earn XP towards mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.

Tone drillsPitch drawing+5 XP
Get Pro to unlock

Jason Explains 甜头 to you

Let me explain 甜头 for you

Make it yours

Jason looks at what you watch and listen to, the checkpoints you have cleared, our lessons and what you have been exploring, and explains 甜头 through them.

Sign in free to make it personal. New accounts start with 200 AI credits.

How well do you know 甜头?

Example

Learning Lab

Knowing 甜头 is seven skills, not one.

Its meaning, its character, its pinyin, its tone — hearing it, saying it, writing it. The Learning Lab measures each one from your own practice, on every word you study, so you see what you actually know rather than how much you have done.

  • MeaningFree
  • CharacterFree
  • PinyinFree
  • TonePro
  • ListeningPro
  • SpeakingPro
  • WritingPro
See the Learning Lab Three facets free · no card needed

Component characters

甜tiánsweet
HSK 311 strokes甘
View full entry
头tóuhead
HSK 25 strokes大
View full entry

How to say sweet taste (of power, success etc) in Chinese

“sweet taste (of power, success etc)” in Chinese is甜头tiántou

甜头 (tián tóu) refers to a sweet taste or benefit, often used metaphorically to describe the pleasurable rewards of success or power. It is commonly used in contexts where one enjoys the benefits of hard work or strategic actions, highlighting the positive outcomes that can be derived from a situation.

When to use 甜头

Be aware that 甜头 is typically used in informal contexts and may not be suitable for formal writing. Common collocations include phrases like ‘获得甜头’ (huò dé tián tóu - to reap benefits). A common mistake is confusing it with 甜味 (tián wèi), which refers strictly to the taste of sweetness, not the metaphorical sense.

甜头 or something close to it

好处 (hǎochù) - use 甜头 when emphasizing the pleasurable aspect of benefits, while 好处 is more neutral.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 甜头 with similar phrases like ‘甜蜜’ (tián mì - sweet and lovely) or use it inappropriately in formal contexts. For example, saying '我喜欢甜头的事情' (I like sweet things) is incorrect; it should be used to refer to benefits rather than literal sweetness.

Write 甜头

甜
头

Practice writing 甜头 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Ask Jason

Have a question about 甜头?

Jason answers about this word at your level: example sentences, how it differs from similar words, and a way to remember it.

Sign in free to ask. New accounts start with 200 AI credits.

Frequently asked questions about 甜头

No, 甜头 is typically used in informal contexts and may not be appropriate for formal writing.

Jason Recommends

Not sure what to learn after 甜头?

Jason picks three words from your level and explains why each one is worth your time next. It takes a free account so he knows what you already know.

A sample week, replayed. Every page you study lands here in the order you did it — your own replay starts with a free account.

See the Learning Lab