TongTong
Sign in

皱眉头 (zhòu méi tóu) — to frown

Definition

A vivid verb meaning 'to frown / knit one's brows', describing the facial expression of displeasure, worry, or concentration. The brow-furrowing action is the focus, not the feeling itself.

verb
to frown

Examples

  • 皱眉头，。
    Bié zhòu méi tóu le, bié rén huì kàn jiàn de.
    Don't frown, others will see.
  • ，。
    Tā zhòu le zhòu méi tóu, rán hòu xiào le xiào.
    He frowned a couple of times, then smiled.
  • 。
    Tā zhòu zhe méi tóu kàn wán le nà fēng xìn.
    She read the letter with a frown.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

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

皱zhòuto knit
眉头brow tip
眉méibrow头tóutip
偏正Modifier + head

皱眉头 uses 皱, to knit, with 眉头, the brow tip, to mean frown.

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 皺; 皱 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
皮皮pí
Sound part声符shēngfú
芻
芻chú皺zhòu
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 皺 pairs 皮 (skin) with 芻 as a sound part; the simplified 皱 is a shorthand and its visible parts are not the historical ones.

Open 皱 →

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

眉 originally showed 𠃜, hair, above 目, an eye.

Open 眉 →

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 →
Appears in
Body Parts

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