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口头 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
口头kǒutóuoralHSK 6, n, 8 strokes, rank #11991, Hard
口头kǒutóuverbalHSK 6, n, 8 strokes, rank #11991, Hard
kǒutóu(kou3tou2)kou tou T3
  1. 1oral
  2. 2verbal
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March 24, 2026

口头(口頭)kǒutóu(kou3tou2)

口头 (kǒutóu) refers to anything expressed in spoken form rather than written. It is commonly used in contexts such as oral examinations, verbal agreements, or discussions where speech is the primary medium of communication. The term emphasizes the transient and immediate nature of spoken language compared to the permanence of written text.

Strokes8Frequency#11991DifficultyHard
Cultural note

In Chinese culture, verbal agreements often hold significant weight, reflecting a deep trust in interpersonal relationships, which contrasts with some Western cultures where written contracts are more common.

Memory tip

Think of the character 口 (kǒu) resembling a mouth, which is used for speaking, and the character头 (tóu) meaning 'head,' as in 'the head speaks.' Together, they create a vivid image of verbal communication coming directly from the mouth.

Meanings of 口头

kǒutóu(kou3tou2)
1oral
2verbal
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

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About 口头

口头Simplified
口頭Traditional
8Strokes
—Radical
名形词xíngróngcíadj-noun (adj.-n.)Part of Speech
#11991Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L6HSK 3.0L6AdvancedCEFRC2

Podcast: 口头

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Podcast: 口头

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AI Study Notes for 口头

Quick Contrast

口头 (kǒutóu) vs 书面 (shūmiàn) — use 口头 for spoken forms, while 书面 refers specifically to written forms.

Usage Notes

Be careful not to confuse 口头 with written forms; they represent different mediums of expression. It's often used in formal contexts, such as legal or academic settings, so ensure the context matches its usage. Common collocations include 口头报告 (oral report) and 口头协议 (verbal agreement).

HSK Study Tips

As an HSK 6 word, 口头 connects with other advanced vocabulary related to communication and expression. Students should focus on using it in sentences that involve discussions or presentations to reinforce its meaning in practical contexts.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 口头 with written forms; for example, saying '我写了一个口头报告' (I wrote an oral report) is incorrect. The correction would be to say '我做了一个口头报告' (I gave an oral report).

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 口头

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Component Characters

口kǒumouth
HSK 13 strokes口
View full entry
头tóuhead
HSK 25 strokes大
View full entry

How to say oral in Chinese

“oral” in Chinese is口头kǒutóu

口头 (kǒutóu) refers to anything expressed in spoken form rather than written. It is commonly used in contexts such as oral examinations, verbal agreements, or discussions where speech is the primary medium of communication. The term emphasizes the transient and immediate nature of spoken language compared to the permanence of written text.

When to use 口头

Be careful not to confuse 口头 with written forms; they represent different mediums of expression. It's often used in formal contexts, such as legal or academic settings, so ensure the context matches its usage. Common collocations include 口头报告 (oral report) and 口头协议 (verbal agreement).

口头 or something close to it

口头 (kǒutóu) vs 书面 (shūmiàn) — use 口头 for spoken forms, while 书面 refers specifically to written forms.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 口头 with written forms; for example, saying '我写了一个口头报告' (I wrote an oral report) is incorrect. The correction would be to say '我做了一个口头报告' (I gave an oral report).

Write 口头

口
头

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

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Grammar Patterns of 口头

口头 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). It carries 2 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.

Exercise 1 of 4

Fill the gap

Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.

起初看起来我会以____表决的方式获胜。

At first it looked like I was going to win by acclamation.

Example Sentences for 口头 (4)

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noral2
1
起初看起来我会以口头表决的方式获胜。

qǐ chū kàn qǐ lái wǒ huì yǐ kǒu tóu biǎo jué de fāng shì huò shèng。

At first it looked like I was going to win by acclamation.
2
许多科学论文,即便不是大多数,都是以口头形式在科学会议上发表的。

xǔ duō kē xué lùn wén, , jí biàn bù shì dà duō, shù , dū shì yǐ kǒu tóu xíng shì zài kē xué huì yì shàng fā。

Many, if not most, scientific papers are presented orally at scientific meetings.
nverbal2
3
经理要求员工在会议上提供口头报告,而不是书面报告。

Jīnglǐ yāoqiú yuángōng zài huìyì shàng tígōng kǒutóu bàogào, ér bùshì shūmiàn bàogào.

The manager asked the employees to provide verbal reports in the meeting instead of written ones.
4
律师建议客户达成口头协议,以便更快解决问题。

Lǜshī jiànyì kèhù dáchéng kǒutóu xiéyì, yǐbiàn gèng kuài jiějué wèntí.

The lawyer suggested the client reach a verbal agreement to resolve the issue more quickly.

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Frequently Asked Questions about 口头

口头 (kǒutóu) refers to oral communication, while 书面 (shūmiàn) refers to written communication.

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