跟头 (gēn tou) — a fall, a tumble; a somersault

Definition

跟头 is a colloquial noun for a fall, tumble, or somersault — physical ('摔跟头' = take a tumble) or figurative ('摔了个大跟头' = suffered a big setback).

noun

a falla tumblea somersault

Measure word · 个

跟头。
Tā bù xiǎo xīn shuāi le yí gè gēn tou.
He accidentally fell.
跟头。
Zhè cì shī bài ràng tā shuāi le yí gè dà gēn tou.
This failure made him suffer a big setback.
。
Hái zi men zài cǎo dì shàng fān gēn tou.
The children are doing somersaults on the grass.

Derived word

构词法gòucífǎ

后缀hòuzhuìSuffix

A fixed syllable at the end that turns the word into a noun, a person, a place or the like.

跟头 names a fall or somersault, with 头 added to form the word.

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

足足zúfoot

Sound part声符shēngfú

艮

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.

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.

豆頁頭

Meaning part形符xíngfú

頁頁yèhead

Sound part声符shēngfú

豆

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.

Appears in