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March 24, 2026
头发(頭髮)tóufa(tou2fa5)
头发 (tóu fa) refers specifically to the hair on the head. It is commonly used in everyday conversations about personal grooming, hairstyles, and health. The term can also be found in contexts discussing beauty and fashion.
Strokes10Frequency#790DifficultyMedium
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, hair is often associated with beauty and identity. Traditional practices, such as hair cutting or styling, can have cultural significance, especially during festivals or rites of passage.
Memory Tip
Imagine a 'head' (头, tóu) with 'fa' (发, fa) coming out of it like a glorious mane of hair. Visualize styling this hair in different ways to remember that 头发 means 'hair on the head'.
Meanings of 头发
tóufa(tou2fa5)
1hair (on the head)
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About 头发
头发Simplified
頭髮Traditional
10Strokes
—Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#790Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L3HSK 3.0L3ElementaryTOCFLL2HSKKL1CEFRA1
Podcast: 头发
Podcast: 头发
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AI Study Notes for 头发
Quick Contrast
毛发 (máofà) refers to hair in a more general sense, including body hair, while 头发 (tóufa) specifically denotes hair on the head.
Usage Notes
Be careful not to confuse 头发 with other words for hair, as it specifically refers to hair on the head. It's used in both formal and informal contexts, and common collocations include phrases like '洗头发' (wash hair) and '剪头发' (cut hair). Pay attention to the tones: 头 (tóu) is second tone, and 发 (fa) is fifth tone.
HSK Study Tips
As a HSK Level 3 word, 头发 connects to other body parts like 眼睛 (eyes) and 鼻子 (nose), which are also commonly learned. Focus on using it in sentences to describe hairstyles or personal grooming habits.
Common Mistakes
Learners often mistakenly use 头发 in phrases that apply to body hair, like saying '我有很多头发在手臂上' (I have a lot of hair on my arms), which should be '毛' (máo) instead. Remember, 头发 is only for head hair.
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Pronunciation of 头发
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头发 (tóu fa) refers specifically to the hair on the head. It is commonly used in everyday conversations about personal grooming, hairstyles, and health. The term can also be found in contexts discussing beauty and fashion.
When to use 头发
Be careful not to confuse 头发 with other words for hair, as it specifically refers to hair on the head. It's used in both formal and informal contexts, and common collocations include phrases like '洗头发' (wash hair) and '剪头发' (cut hair). Pay attention to the tones: 头 (tóu) is second tone, and 发 (fa) is fifth tone.
头发 or something close to it
毛发 (máofà) refers to hair in a more general sense, including body hair, while 头发 (tóufa) specifically denotes hair on the head.
What learners get wrong
Learners often mistakenly use 头发 in phrases that apply to body hair, like saying '我有很多头发在手臂上' (I have a lot of hair on my arms), which should be '毛' (máo) instead. Remember, 头发 is only for head hair.
Write 头发
头
发
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Grammar Patterns of 头发
头发 functions as a noun — it names a person, place, thing, or concept. Place it as a subject before the verb (主+谓) or as an object after the verb (谓+宾). Most Chinese nouns require a measure word between the number and the noun (e.g. 一个/三本). The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
