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馒头 (mán tou) — Chinese word meaning

HSK 4

馒头 (mán tou) is a Chinese word: steamed bun. This page shows its pinyin, translation, example sentences, character breakdown, decomposition, and HSK level.

Meaning of 馒头

名 míng noun

steamed bun

我早餐吃了两个馒头。

wǒ zǎo cǎn chī le liǎng gè mán tou

I ate two steamed buns for breakfast.

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Word breakdown

馒 mán — steamed (bread/bun)

头 tóu / tou — noun suffix (forms the word for bun)

Contextual pronunciation: tou

Words with this character (55)
Show more (+50)
  • 6 木头 mù tou — wood HSK 5
    • 木 tree, wood (provides the core meaning of wooden material)
    • 头 nominal suffix (makes the word more concrete and colloquial)
    Example

    这张桌子是木头做的。

    zhè zhāng zhuō zi shì mù tou zuò de

    This table is made of wood.

  • 7 石头 shí tou — stone HSK 5
    • 石 stone, rock (main semantic component)
    • 头 nominal suffix (makes the word more colloquial)
    Example

    这块石头很重。

    zhè kuài shí tou hěn zhòng

    This stone is very heavy.

  • 8 里头 lǐ tou — inside HSK 5
    • 里 inside, interior (core meaning)
    • 头 locational suffix (makes the word colloquial)
    Example

    盒子里头有很多糖果。

    hé zi lǐ tou yǒu hěn duō táng guǒ

    There are many candies inside the box.

  • 9 口头 kǒu tóu — oral HSK 6
    • 口 mouth; represents the spoken/oral nature
    • 头 suffix indicating manner or form
    Example

    我们达成了口头协议。

    wǒ men dá chéng le kǒu tóu xié yì

    We reached an oral agreement.

  • 10 回头 huí tóu — turn back, look back HSK 6
    • 回 return, go back (to do something)
    • 头 head; suffix indicating a short time frame
    Example

    他听到声音就回头看了看。

    tā tīng dào shēng yīn jiù huí tóu kàn le kàn

    He turned back to look when he heard the sound.

  • 11 头脑 tóu nǎo — mind HSK 6
    • 头 head (physical seat of thinking)
    • 脑 brain (organ of thought and intelligence)
    Example

    他头脑很清楚。

    tā tóu nǎo hěn qīng chu

    He has a clear mind.

  • 12 开头 kāi tóu — beginning HSK 6
    • 开 to open, to start
    • 头 head, first part
    Example

    这本书的开头很吸引人。

    zhè běn shū de kāi tóu hěn xī yǐn rén

    The beginning of this book is very captivating.

  • 13 摄像头 shè xiàng tóu — camera HSK 6
    • 摄 to capture, to record
    • 像 image, video
    • 头 device suffix (indicates a tool or apparatus)
    Example

    他在电脑上安装了摄像头。

    tā zài diàn nǎo shàng ān zhuāng le shè xiàng tóu

    He installed a camera on his computer.

  • 14 枕头 zhěn tou — pillow HSK 6
    • 枕 pillow; to rest the head on
    • 头 head; nominal suffix
    Example

    我的枕头很软。

    wǒ de zhěn tou hěn ruǎn

    My pillow is very soft.

  • 15 码头 mǎ tóu — wharf HSK 6
    • 码 mooring place; berthing area
    • 头 place (noun suffix indicating location)
    Example

    渔民每天早上在码头卸货。

    yú mín měi tiān zǎo shàng zài mǎ tóu xiè huò

    Fishermen unload goods at the wharf every morning.

  • 16 舌头 shé tou — tongue HSK 6
    • 舌 tongue (the main morpheme denoting the organ)
    • 头 suffix (nominalizing suffix making the word more colloquial)
    Example

    他烫伤了舌头。

    tā tàng shāng le shé tou

    He burned his tongue.

  • 17 街头 jiē tóu — street corner HSK 6
    • 街 street
    • 头 corner, end point
    Example

    街头有很多小吃摊。

    jiē tóu yǒu hěn duō xiǎo chī tān

    There are many snack stalls on the street corner.

  • 18 钟头 zhōng tóu — hour HSK 6
    • 钟 clock, time measurement
    • 头 suffix forming a time unit
    Example

    我等了两个钟头。

    wǒ děng le liǎng ge zhōng tóu

    I waited for two hours.

  • 19 镜头 jìng tóu — lens HSK 6
    • 镜 lens, optical glass
    • 头 component, part (suffix)
    Example

    他正在清洁相机镜头。

    tā zhèng zài qīng jié xiàng jī jìng tóu

    He is cleaning the camera lens.

  • 20 骨头 gǔ tou — bone HSK 6
    • 骨 bone (main semantic component)
    • 头 nominal suffix (makes the word colloquial and concrete)
    Example

    狗喜欢啃骨头。

    gǒu xǐ huan kěn gǔ tou

    Dogs like to gnaw on bones.

  • 21 一头 yì tóu — one (head of livestock) HSK 7
    • 一 one, whole, single
    • 头 head
    Example

    农场里只剩下一头了。

    nóng chǎng lǐ zhǐ shèng xià yì tóu le

    Only one animal remains on the farm.

  • 22 个头儿 gè tóu r — size HSK 7
    • 个 classifier/measure word indicating individual unit
    • 头 head; in this compound refers to size or dimension
    • 儿 retroflex suffix adding colloquial/informal tone (Beijing dialect)
    Example

    这个西瓜个头儿真大。

    zhè ge xī guā gè tóu r zhēn dà

    This watermelon is really big in size.

  • 23 丫头 yā tou — girl (informal/affectionate term) HSK 7
    • 丫 young girl (derived from forked shape resembling traditional hairstyle)
    • 头 suffix making the word colloquial and affectionate
    Example

    这个小丫头真可爱。

    zhè ge xiǎo yā tou zhēn kě ài

    This little girl is really cute.

  • 24 交头接耳 jiāo tóu jiē ěr — whisper to each other HSK 7
    • 交 exchange, bring together
    • 头 head (coming close together)
    • 接 connect, join (ears touching)
    • 耳 ear (close proximity for whispering)
    Example

    学生们在课堂上交头接耳，老师很生气。

    xué shēng men zài kè táng shàng jiāo tóu jiē ěr lǎo shī hěn shēng qì

    The students whispered to each other in class, and the teacher was very angry.

  • 25 从头 cóng tóu — from the beginning HSK 7
    • 从 from (indicating starting point)
    • 头 beginning, start (metaphorical use of 'head')
    Example

    我们从头开始吧。

    wǒ men cóng tóu kāi shǐ ba

    Let's start from the beginning.

  • 26 兆头 zhào tou — omen HSK 7
    • 兆 sign, omen, portent
    • 头 noun suffix (nominalizer)
    Example

    这是个好兆头。

    zhè shì gè hǎo zhào tou

    This is a good omen.

  • 27 关头 guān tóu — critical juncture HSK 7
    • 关 critical pass/checkpoint, contributes the sense of a decisive or crucial point
    • 头 point/juncture, indicates a specific moment or position in time
    Example

    在这个关头，我们必须团结一致。

    zài zhè ge guān tóu wǒ men bì xū tuán jié yī zhì

    At this critical juncture, we must unite as one.

  • 28 出头 chū tóu — to get ahead, to stand out HSK 7
    • 出 to emerge, to come out
    • 头 head, prominence
    Example

    他努力工作，希望早日出头。

    tā nǔ lì gōng zuò xī wàng zǎo rì chū tóu

    He works hard, hoping to get ahead soon.

  • 29 到头来 dào tóu lái — in the end HSK 7
    • 到 to reach, arrive at
    • 头 end, conclusion
    • 来 come (indicates arrival at this point)
    Example

    到头来，他还是选择了回家。

    dào tóu lái tā hái shì xuǎn zé le huí jiā

    In the end, he still chose to go home.

  • 30 劲头 jìn tóu — enthusiasm, drive, energy HSK 7
    • 劲 strength, vigor, force
    • 头 suffix that nominalizes and adds colloquial flavor
    Example

    大家干活的劲头很足。

    dà jiā gàn huó de jìn tóu hěn zú

    Everyone is working with great enthusiasm.

  • 31 势头 shì tou — momentum HSK 7
    • 势 force, power, momentum
    • 头 suffix indicating direction or aspect
    Example

    公司保持着良好的发展势头。

    gōng sī bǎo chí zhe liáng hǎo de fā zhǎn shì tou

    The company maintains good development momentum.

  • 32 口头禅 kǒu tóu chán — catchphrase HSK 7
    • 口 mouth, oral, spoken
    • 头 forms compound meaning 'oral/verbal'
    • 禅 mantra, repeated phrase (from Buddhist meditation practice)
    Example

    她总是说'你知道吗'，这已经成了她的口头禅。

    tā zǒng shì shuō nǐ zhī dào ma zhè yǐ jīng chéng le tā de kǒu tóu chán

    She always says 'you know,' which has become her catchphrase.

  • 33 垂头丧气 chuí tóu sàng qì — dejected and discouraged HSK 7
    • 垂 to hang down, droop
    • 头 head
    • 丧 to lose, to be deprived of
    • 气 spirit, energy, morale
    Example

    考试没考好，他垂头丧气地回家了。

    kǎo shì méi kǎo hǎo tā chuí tóu sàng qì de huí jiā le

    He didn't do well on the exam, so he went home dejected and discouraged.

  • 34 埋头苦干 mái tóu kǔ gàn — immerse oneself in hard work HSK 7
    • 埋 bury, lower (one's head)
    • 头 head
    • 苦 hard, painstaking (work)
    • 干 work, do
    Example

    他埋头苦干了十年，终于成功了。

    tā mái tóu kǔ gàn le shí nián zhōng yú chéng gōng le

    He immersed himself in hard work for ten years and finally succeeded.

  • 35 头号 tóu hào — number one HSK 7
    • 头 first, top, leading
    • 号 number, rank
    Example

    他是我们队的头号球员。

    tā shì wǒ men duì de tóu hào qiú yuán

    He is our team's number one player.

  • 36 头头是道 tóu tóu shì dào — speaking logically and systematically HSK 7
    • 头 every point, every aspect
    • 头 repetition for emphasis
    • 是 conforming to, being in accordance with
    • 道 logic, reasoning, principle
    Example

    虽然他说得头头是道，但实际上并不完全正确。

    suī rán tā shuō de tóu tóu shì dào dàn shí jì shàng bìng bù wán quán zhèng què

    Although he speaks very logically, it's not entirely correct in reality.

  • 37 头条 tóu tiáo — headline HSK 7
    • 头 head, top, leading position
    • 条 article, item, strip (forms compound for news story)
    Example

    这条新闻成为了今天的头条。

    zhè tiáo xīn wén chéng wéi le jīn tiān de tóu tiáo

    This news became today's headline.

  • 38 头衔 tóu xián — title HSK 7
    • 头 top, leading (position)
    • 衔 to bear, to hold (a rank/title)
    Example

    她的头衔是教授。

    tā de tóu xián shì jiào shòu

    Her title is professor.

  • 39 尽头 jìn tóu — end HSK 7
    • 尽 exhaust, utmost, to the limit
    • 头 end point, terminus
    Example

    这条路的尽头有一座桥。

    zhè tiáo lù de jìn tóu yǒu yī zuò qiáo

    There is a bridge at the end of this road.

  • 40 巨头 jù tóu — giant HSK 7
    • 巨 giant, huge, enormous
    • 头 head, leader, chief figure
    Example

    互联网巨头们正在投资人工智能。

    hù lián wǎng jù tóu men zhèng zài tóu zī rén gōng zhì néng

    Internet giants are investing in artificial intelligence.

  • 41 带头 dài tóu — to take the lead HSK 7
    • 带 to lead, to bring along
    • 头 first, at the forefront
    Example

    他总是带头做好事。

    tā zǒng shì dài tóu zuò hǎo shì

    He always takes the lead in doing good deeds.

  • 42 念头 niàn tou — thought HSK 7
    • 念 thought, thinking (core semantic element)
    • 头 nominal suffix (makes it a concrete noun)
    Example

    他突然有了一个好念头。

    tā tū rán yǒu le yí ge hǎo niàn tou

    He suddenly had a good idea.

  • 43 手头 shǒu tóu — on hand; at hand HSK 7
    • 手 hand; represents possession or availability
    • 头 suffix; combines with 手 to mean 'at hand' or 'available'
    Example

    我手头没有现金。

    wǒ shǒu tóu méi yǒu xiàn jīn

    I don't have cash on hand.

  • 44 扭头 niǔ tóu — to turn one's head HSK 7
    • 扭 to twist, to turn (the action of rotating)
    • 头 head (the body part being turned)
    Example

    她扭头看了我一眼。

    tā niǔ tóu kàn le wǒ yì yǎn

    She turned her head and glanced at me.

  • 45 拳头 quán tóu — fist HSK 7
    • 拳 fist; the main semantic component referring to a clenched hand
    • 头 suffix; nominalizes the word to form the noun 'fist'
    Example

    他握紧了拳头。

    tā wò jǐn le quán tóu

    He clenched his fist.

  • 46 掉头 diào tóu — to turn around, to make a U-turn HSK 7
    • 掉 to turn, to reverse
    • 头 head, front part
    Example

    前面路不通，我们得掉头了。

    qián miàn lù bù tōng wǒ men děi diào tóu le

    The road ahead is blocked, we need to turn around.

  • 47 晕头转向 yūn tóu zhuàn xiàng — dizzy and disoriented HSK 7
    Example

    他第一次来到大城市，被繁华的街道弄得晕头转向。

    tā dì yī cì lái dào dà chéng shì bèi fán huá de jiē dào nòng de yūn tóu zhuàn xiàng

    He came to the big city for the first time and was made dizzy and disoriented by the bustling streets.

  • 48 水龙头 shuǐ lóng tóu — faucet HSK 7
    • 水 water
    • 龙 dragon (metaphor for flowing water)
    • 头 head, spout (the outlet)
    Example

    他打开水龙头洗手。

    tā dǎ kāi shuǐ lóng tóu xǐ shǒu

    He turned on the faucet to wash his hands.

  • 49 源头 yuán tóu — source HSK 7
    • 源 source, origin
    • 头 head, beginning point
    Example

    这条河的源头在山区。

    zhè tiáo hé de yuán tóu zài shān qū

    The source of this river is in the mountains.

  • 50 牵头 qiān tóu — take the lead HSK 7
    • 牵 to lead, to pull
    • 头 head, front position
    Example

    他牵头组织了这次活动。

    tā qiān tóu zǔ zhī le zhè cì huó dòng

    He took the lead in organizing this event.

  • 51 矛头 máo tóu — spearhead; point of attack; target of criticism HSK 7
    • 矛 spear; represents attack or criticism
    • 头 head, point, tip; indicates the direction or focus
    Example

    不要把矛头对准无辜的人。

    bú yào bǎ máo tóu duì zhǔn wú gū de rén

    Don't direct your criticism at innocent people.

  • 52 罐头 guàn tou — canned food HSK 7
    • 罐 can, tin (the container)
    • 头 nominal suffix forming the noun for canned products
    Example

    超市里的罐头很便宜。

    chāo shì lǐ de guàn tou hěn pián yi

    The canned food in the supermarket is very cheap.

  • 53 苗头 miáo tou — sign, indication HSK 7
    • 苗 sprout, early sign
    • 头 suffix indicating aspect
    Example

    这件事已经出现了不好的苗头。

    zhè jiàn shì yǐ jīng chū xiàn le bù hǎo de miáo tou

    This matter has already shown bad signs.

  • 54 过头 guò tóu — excessive HSK 7
    • 过 to exceed, to go beyond
    • 头 limit, extreme point
    Example

    你开玩笑开得过头了。

    nǐ kāi wán xiào kāi de guò tóu le

    You've taken the joke too far.

  • 55 龙头 lóng tóu — faucet; leading enterprise; industry leader HSK 7
    • 龙 dragon; signifies supremacy, leadership, being foremost
    • 头 head; signifies top position, leading role, front
    Example

    这家公司是行业龙头。

    zhè jiā gōng sī shì háng yè lóng tóu

    This company is an industry leader.

Structure & writing
1 馒 mán — steamed bun (see 馒头, a leavened, dome-shaped bread with no filling)

馒 is not used as a component in any other character.

consists of

1.1 饣 shí — food/eating radical
饣 is a component in 17 characters
HSK 1
饭 fàn cooked rice or grain 饺 jiǎo dumpling (crescent-shaped stuffed dough)
HSK 2
馆 guǎn inn; lodging house for guests
HSK 3
饮 yǐn to drink; especially to drink alcohol 饱 bǎo full (after eating); satiated (opposite of hungry) 饿 è hungry (opposite of 饱)
HSK 4
饼 bǐng flatbread; round flat cake (baked, grilled, or steamed) 馒 mán steamed bun (see 馒头, a leavened, dome-shaped bread with no filling)
HSK 6
饥 jī hungry (opposite of 饱) 馈 kuì to give as a gift, to present
HSK 7
蚀 shí to lose; to damage; to deplete 饪 rèn to cook food 饲 sì to raise (animals); to feed 饵 ěr cake; pastry 饶 ráo abundant, plentiful
Show more HSK 7 characters (+2)
馁 něi (lit.) hungry; starving 馅 xiàn filling (meat, vegetables, sugar, etc. inside dumplings, pastries, or other foods)
1.2 曼 màn — graceful, delicate and smooth
曼 is a component in 4 characters
HSK 2
慢 màn slow; taking a long time (opposite of 快)
HSK 4
漫 màn to overflow (water spilling over) 馒 mán steamed bun (see 馒头, a leavened, dome-shaped bread with no filling)
HSK 7
蔓 màn same as "蔓"（wàn）, used in compound words or idioms, e.g. "蔓草", "蔓延"

Stroke order

2 头 tóu / tou — head (of a person or animal)
Xpinyin
头 is a component in 2 characters
HSK 1
买 mǎi to buy; to purchase (opposite of 卖)
HSK 3
实 shí solid, filled completely with no gaps (opposite of "虚")

consists of

2.1 ⺀ — graphic component
⺀ is a component in 6 characters
HSK 2
头 tóu head (of a person or animal)
HSK 3
冬 dōng winter (the fourth and coldest season)
HSK 4
尽 jìn to finish; to be completed
HSK 7
搀 chān to gently support someone (usually an elderly person) by the arm or hand 枣 zǎo jujube fruit; Chinese date 淤 yū to silt up; to become clogged with sediment
2.2 大 dà — large; great (in volume, area, quantity, force, intensity, etc.; opposite of 小)
Xpinyin
大 is a component in 34 characters
HSK 1
天 tiān sky 太 tài high; great
HSK 2
因 yīn cause; reason (opposite of 果) 夫 fū general term for an adult man 头 tóu head (of a person or animal)
HSK 3
参 cān to join; to participate (in an activity) 奇 qí rare; special; extraordinary
HSK 4
奋 fèn to rouse oneself; to strive vigorously 奖 jiǎng to reward; to praise 套 tào cover; sheath; case (placed over something) 庆 qìng to congratulate; to celebrate 美 měi beautiful; good-looking (opposite of "丑")
Show more HSK 4 characters (+1)
达 dá to go through; to reach
HSK 5
奈 nài how; in what way; what to do about 类 lèi kind; category; a group of similar things 衡 héng steelyard beam; weighing instrument such as a scale or balance
HSK 6
央 yāng to entreat; to beg 夸 kuā to boast; to exaggerate 夺 duó to seize by force; to snatch 奔 bēn to run; to rush 尖 jiān tip or pointed end of an object
Show more HSK 6 characters (+1)
牵 qiān to lead or pull along
HSK 7
夯 hāng a rammer or tamper used to compact foundations (wooden, stone, or iron) 夷 yí flat; peaceful 契 qì (lit.) to carve with a knife 奚 xī slave (in ancient times) 奠 diàn to offer sacrifices to the deceased as a tribute
Show more HSK 7 characters (+7)
奢 shē extravagant; lavish (opposite of 俭) 奥 ào southwest corner of a house in ancient times; inner recess of a room 攀 pān to climb by gripping something 爽 shuǎng bright and clear 犬 quǎn dog 莫 mò (lit.) no one; nothing 驮 tuó to carry on the back (of an animal)

Stroke order