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头头是道 (tóu tóu shì dào) — clear and logical (of speech or reasoning); well-organized and convincing

Definition

A chengyu meaning every point one makes is clear and logical — used to praise someone's speech or reasoning as well-organized and convincing. Always describes the manner of speaking or arguing, not the content itself.

phrase
clear and logical (of speech or reasoning)well-organized and convincing

Examples

  • 头头是道，。
    Tā bǎ zhěng gè jì huà jiǎng dé tóu tóu shì dào, dà jiā dōu tóng yì le.
    He explained the whole plan clearly and logically, and everyone agreed.
  • 头头是道，。
    Zhè piān wén zhāng fēn xī wèn tí tóu tóu shì dào, hěn yǒu shuō fú lì.
    This article analyzes the problem in a clear and logical way, very persuasive.
  • 头头是道，。
    Lǎo shī pī píng xué shēng shí yě shuō dé tóu tóu shì dào, ràng xué shēng xīn fú kǒu fú.
    Even when criticizing students, the teacher spoke so clearly and logically that the students were completely convinced.

Origin

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 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 →

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 →

No reliable origin is recorded for this character.

Open 是 →

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
行行xíngstreet
止止zhǐfoot
Sound part声符shēngfú
𩠐
首shǒu道dào
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

Early 道 showed a street 行, a foot 止, and a part written 首 or 𩠐; the right part of 行 later disappeared.

Open 道 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 7-9

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