挠头 (náo tóu) — (verb-object) to scratch one's head; (figuratively) to be at a loss, to be perplexed by something

Definition

A verb-object phrase: literally 'scratch (one's) head', used figuratively for being puzzled or stuck. Often used with 让人 to mean 'to stump someone' (这件事真让人挠头).

verb
(verb-object) to scratch one's head(figuratively) to be at a lossto be perplexed by something
Easily confused

Examples

  • ，。
    Tā náo le jǐ xià tóu, hái shì méi xiǎng chū lái.
    He scratched his head a few times but still couldn't figure it out.
  • 挠头，。
    Tā zhèng zài náo tóu, hǎo xiàng hěn wú nài.
    He is scratching his head, looking quite helpless.
  • 挠头。
    Zhè jiàn shì zhēn ràng rén náo tóu.
    This matter is really head-scratching.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

An action followed by what it acts on, fused into one word.

挠náoscratch
头tóuhead

“挠” means scratch and “头” means head; together it describes scratching the head, extended to being at a loss.

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 撓; 挠 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
扌Written in full as手shǒuhand
Sound part声符shēngfú
堯
堯yáo撓náo
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 撓 pairs 扌 (hand) with 堯 to give the sound; the simplified 挠 is a later shorthand.

Open 挠 →

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 →

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