两头 (liǎng tóu) — both ends (of a physical object); either end; b…

Definition

Literally 'both heads/ends' — used for the two physical ends of an object, or metaphorically for the two parties/sides in a deal or dispute.

noun

both ends (of a physical object)either endboth partiesboth sides

两头。
Zhè tiáo shéng zi de liǎng tóu dōu xì zài shù shàng.
Both ends of this rope are tied to the tree.
两头。
Zhè jiàn shì xū yào liǎng tóu dōu tóng yì cái néng jiě jué.
This matter requires both sides to agree before it can be resolved.
两头。
Tā men jiā zài cūn zi liǎng tóu gè yǒu yí kuài dì.
Their family has a piece of land at each end of the village.

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.

“两” (two) and “头” (end) give both ends.

Characters in this word

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 兩; 两 is its simplified writing.

The traditional form 兩 is described as combining 一 and 㒳. The simplified 两 is a later abbreviation.

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.

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