头里 (tóu lǐ) — (p.w.) in front; ahead; before (in space or time)

Definition

A colloquial preposition-like noun meaning 'in front' (in space) or 'before/ahead' (in time). Often used in spoken or narrative Chinese where 前面 marks location and 之前 marks time.

noun
(p.w.) in frontaheadbefore (in space or time)

Examples

  • 头里，。
    Nǐ zǒu tóu lǐ, wǒ gēn zhe nǐ.
    You go ahead, I'll follow you.
  • 头里。
    Sān tiān tóu lǐ tā jiù chū fā le.
    He set off three days ago.
  • 头里。
    Zhè shì r dé tóu lǐ jì huà hǎo.
    This matter needs to be planned in advance.

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 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.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 裡; 里 is its simplified writing.

The simplified 里 stands for more than one traditional character. In most words (里, 里面) it is 裡; in others (公里) it is 里 or 裏.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
衤Written in full as衣yīclothes
Sound part声符shēngfú
里
里lǐ裡lǐ
Same sound today

The form 裡 pairs 衤 (clothes) with 里 as a sound component.

Open 里 →

Browse more HSK 7-9 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.