Definition
上头 is a verb-object compound (离合词) with two distinct meanings. The first is a traditional wedding ritual where the bride's hair is put up in a bun. The second is a colloquial expression meaning 'to go to one's head' — when alcohol makes you feel lightheaded or slightly drunk. You can split the word: 上了一次头 (for the ritual) or 酒上了头 (the alcohol took effect). The pronunciation shifts: as a compound, 头 is neutral (shàng tou); when split, 头 becomes second tone (tóu).
v.o.
to put one's hair up in a bun (as part of a traditional wedding ceremony)(of alcohol) to go to one's headto make one slightly drunk
Examples
- ，。Jiéhūn nà tiān, pópo gěi tā shàng le tóu.On her wedding day, her mother-in-law put her hair up.
- ，上头。Zhè jiǔ jìnr bù xiǎo, róngyì shàng tou.This liquor is strong; it easily goes to your head.
- 。Wǒ cái hē le liǎng bēi jiù shàng le tóu.I only drank two glasses and already felt it going to my head.
Browse more HSK 7-9 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.