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势头 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
势头shìtoupowerHSK 7, unknown, 13 strokes, rank #17317, Very Hard
势头shìtoumomentumHSK 7, unknown, 13 strokes, rank #17317, Very Hard
势头shìtoutendencyHSK 7, unknown, 13 strokes, rank #17317, Very Hard
势头shìtouimpetusHSK 7, unknown, 13 strokes, rank #17317, Very Hard
势头shìtousituationHSK 7, unknown, 13 strokes, rank #17317, Very Hard
势头shìtouthe look of thingsHSK 7, unknown, 13 strokes, rank #17317, Very Hard
shìtou(shi4tou5)shi tou T4
  1. 1power
  2. 2momentum
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March 24, 2026

势头(勢頭)shìtou(shi4tou5)

势头 (shìtóu) refers to the momentum or power of a situation, often indicating a prevailing trend or tendency. It is commonly used in contexts such as business, politics, or social dynamics to describe the direction and strength of developments.

Strokes13Frequency#17317DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note

In Chinese culture, understanding 势头 is crucial in business and politics, where recognizing momentum can be the key to success or failure. For instance, the phrase '抓住势头' (grasp the momentum) is often used in entrepreneurial contexts.

Memory tip

Think of 势 (shì) as a powerful force and头 (tóu) as the head of that force. Imagine a strong wind (势) pushing a sailboat (头) forward, symbolizing momentum and the direction in which things are moving.

Meanings of 势头

shìtou(shi4tou5)
1power
2momentum
Exercise 1 of 2

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About 势头

势头Simplified
勢頭Traditional
13Strokes
—Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7AdvancedCEFRC2

Podcast: 势头

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Podcast: 势头

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AI study notes for 势头

Quick Contrast

趋势 (qūshì) - use 势头 (shìtóu) when emphasizing the momentum or power behind a situation, while 趋势 (qūshì) focuses more on the general direction or trend itself.

Usage Notes

Be careful not to confuse 势头 with similar terms like 趋势 (qūshì), which means 'trend' but lacks the connotation of power. This term is more formal, often used in written contexts like reports or speeches.

HSK Study Tips

While 势头 is not an HSK word, it relates to more advanced vocabulary in discussing trends and dynamics. Students should focus on understanding how it fits into discussions about change and influence.

Common Mistakes

Learners often misuse 势头 by saying '势力' (shìlì, power/influence) instead, which has a different meaning. Always ensure you are discussing momentum or trends, not just power.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 势头

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Component characters

势shìpower
HSK 58 strokes力
View full entry
头tóuhead
HSK 25 strokes大
View full entry

How to say power in Chinese

“power” in Chinese is势头shìtou

势头 (shìtóu) refers to the momentum or power of a situation, often indicating a prevailing trend or tendency. It is commonly used in contexts such as business, politics, or social dynamics to describe the direction and strength of developments.

When to use 势头

Be careful not to confuse 势头 with similar terms like 趋势 (qūshì), which means 'trend' but lacks the connotation of power. This term is more formal, often used in written contexts like reports or speeches.

势头 or something close to it

趋势 (qūshì) - use 势头 (shìtóu) when emphasizing the momentum or power behind a situation, while 趋势 (qūshì) focuses more on the general direction or trend itself.

What learners get wrong

Learners often misuse 势头 by saying '势力' (shìlì, power/influence) instead, which has a different meaning. Always ensure you are discussing momentum or trends, not just power.

Write 势头

势
头

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Frequently asked questions about 势头

You can say '这项政策有很强的势头' (This policy has strong momentum).

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