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过头 (guò tóu) — excessive, over the top, too much (used as a complement after adjectives or verbs)

Definition

Used as a verb or adjective complement after V/Adj to mean 'overdone, too much.' Like 过分 and 过度 but works directly after an adjective or verb (开过头了), while 过分 and 过度 typically stand before it.

adjective
excessiveover the toptoo much (used as a complement after adjectives or verbs)

Examples

  • 过头，。
    Tā kāi wán xiào kāi guò tóu le, dà jiā dōu shēng qì le.
    He took the joke too far, and everyone got angry.
  • 过头，。
    Nǐ qiān xū guò tóu le, nǐ de shuǐ píng qí shí hěn gāo.
    You are being too modest; your level is actually very high.
  • 过头，。
    Zhè ge cài zuò dé là guò tóu le, wǒ chī bù liǎo.
    This dish is made too spicy; I can't eat it.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

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

过guòpass beyond
头tóutop; limit

“过” means to pass beyond, and “头” means the top or limit; together they suggest something has gone too far.

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 過; 过 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
辵辵chuòwalk
Sound part声符shēngfú
咼
咼wāi過guò
Same sound today

The traditional form 過 pairs 辵 (walk) with 咼 as a sound component; the simplified 过 is a shorthand, and its parts are not the historical components.

Open 过 →

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
HSK 3.0 Level 7-9Comparison & Degree

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