线头 (xiàn tóu) — end of a thread; odd piece of thread; loose thread

Definition

noun
end of a threadodd piece of threadloose thread
Measure word · 根

Examples

  • 线头。
    Yī fu shàng yǒu yí gè xiàn tóu.
    There is a loose thread on the clothes.
  • 线头。
    Tā bǎ xiàn tóu jiǎn diào le.
    She cut off the end of the thread.
  • 线头，。
    Zhè gēn xiàn tóu tài duǎn le, méi fǎ yòng.
    This piece of thread is too short to use.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

线xiànthread
头tóuend

线, meaning thread, combines with 头, meaning end, to name a loose end of thread.

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 線; 线 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
糹Written in full as糸mì
Sound part声符shēngfú
泉
泉quán線xiàn
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 線 uses 糹 (silk/thread) to show the meaning and 泉 to suggest the sound; the simplified 线 is a later shorthand.

Open 线 →

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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