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从头到尾 (cóng tóu dào wěi) — from beginning to end; throughout the entire process

Definition

A set phrase meaning 'from start to finish, throughout' — emphasizes the whole span of an event or text with no omission. Classified as a verb (verbal idiom) but functions like an adverbial, often paired with 都.

verb
from beginning to endthroughout the entire process

Examples

  • 从头到尾。
    Wǒ bǎ zhè běn shū cóng tóu dào wěi dú le yí biàn.
    I read this book from cover to cover.
  • 从头到尾。
    Tā zuò shì zǒng shì cóng tóu dào wěi fù zé dào dǐ.
    He is always responsible from start to finish in his work.
  • 从头到尾。
    Zhè ge gù shi cóng tóu dào wěi dōu hěn xī yǐn rén.
    This story was engaging from beginning to end.

Origin

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 從; 从 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
辵辵chuòwalk
Sound part声符shēngfú
从
从cóng從cóng
Same sound today

The traditional form 從 pairs 辵 (walk) with 从, which gives the sound; the character was originally written 从.

Open 从 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 頭; 头 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
頁頁yèhead
Sound part声符shēngfú
豆
豆dòu頭tóu
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 頭 shows 頁, meaning head, beside 豆 as a sound component; the simplified 头 is a later shorthand.

Open 头 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
至至zhìto arrive
Sound part声符shēngfú
刀
刀dāo到dào
Same sound today

到 combines 至, meaning 'to arrive', with 刀 as the sound part. The 至 part points to the idea of reaching a stopping point.

Open 到 →

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

The form 尾 combines 尸 (person) and 毛 (hair; feather).

Open 尾 →
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Idioms & Set Phrases

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