栽跟头 (zāi gēn tou) — to fall and tumble (literally); to suffer a setback, to fail, to be embarrassed (figuratively)

Definition

A vivid colloquial verb meaning 'to take a tumble / fall flat on one's face' — used literally for tripping and, more commonly, figuratively for failing or being embarrassed. Often pairs with a measure word (栽一个跟头) when talking about setbacks.

verb
to fall and tumble (literally)to suffer a setbackto failto be embarrassed (figuratively)

Examples

  • ，栽跟头。
    Tā zǒu lù bù xiǎo xīn, zāi gēn tou le.
    He wasn't careful while walking and took a tumble.
  • 。
    Zhè cì tóu zī ràng tā zāi le yí gè dà gēn tou.
    This investment made him suffer a major setback.
  • ，。
    Nián qīng de shí hou duō zāi jǐ cì gēn tou, yǐ hòu jiù gèng yǒu jīng yàn le.
    If you stumble a few times when you're young, you'll have more experience later.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

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

栽zāifall
跟头somersault
跟gēn头tóu

栽 (fall) plus 跟头 (somersault) gives a tumble, then a setback or embarrassment.

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.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
木木mù
Sound part声符shēngfú
𢦏
𢦏𢦏栽zāi
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

栽 is made from 木 and 𢦏: 木 is the wood/tree part, and 𢦏 points to the sound.

Open 栽 →

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
足足zúfoot
Sound part声符shēngfú
艮
艮gèn跟gēn
Same sound today

跟 is built from 足 (foot) plus 艮. The 足 part ties the character to foot-related senses, while 艮 gives the sound.

Open 跟 →

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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