找头 (zhǎo tou) — change (money returned as the difference between payment and cost)

Definition

Colloquial word for the change (money) a cashier returns to you after you pay. Mostly used in everyday speech; in writing or formal contexts 零钱 is more common.

noun
change (money returned as the difference between payment and cost)

Examples

  • 找头。
    Fú wù yuán bǎ zhǎo tou fàng zài zhuō shàng le.
    The waiter put the change on the table.
  • 找头，。
    Zhè zhāng chāo piào méi yǒu zhǎo tou, wǒ yào huàn yì zhāng.
    This bill has no change needed; I want to exchange it for another.
  • 找头，。
    Zhè shì nǐ de zhǎo tou, qǐng shōu hǎo.
    Here is your change, please keep it.

Origin

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.

找zhǎogive change
头tóuthe resulting thing

找, to give change, combines with 头 to name the money returned.

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
扌Written in full as手shǒuhand
Sound part声符shēngfú
戈
戈gē找zhǎo
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

找 pairs 扌 (hand) with 戈 as a sound part. The idea that it shows a hand looking for a halberd is only a memory trick.

Open 找 →

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 →

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