捕头 (bǔ tóu) — traditional head constable (local law enforcement officer in imperial China)

Definition

In imperial China, 捕头 was the senior constable leading local law enforcement — a role common in historical novels and period dramas. Roughly equivalent to a 'head constable' or sheriff.

noun
traditional head constable (local law enforcement officer in imperial China)
Measure word · 个

Examples

  • 捕头。
    Gǔ dài de bǔ tóu fù zé zhuā huài rén.
    In ancient times, the head constable was responsible for catching criminals.
  • 捕头，。
    Zhè ge bǔ tóu wǔ gōng hěn gāo, yí gè rén zhuā le sān gè dào zéi.
    This head constable is highly skilled in martial arts; he caught three thieves alone.
  • 捕头。
    Xiǎo shuō lǐ miáo xiě le yí wèi zhèng zhí yǒng gǎn de bǔ tóu.
    The novel depicts an upright and brave head constable.

Origin

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.

捕bǔarrest
头tóuchief

捕 relates to arrest or catching, while 头 means chief, forming a chief constable.

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
甫
甫fǔ捕bǔ
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

捕 uses 扌 (a hand, from 手) to show catching, and 甫 for the sound.

Open 捕 →

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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