Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
头发(頭髮)tóufa(tou2fa5)
头发 (tóu fa) refers specifically to the hair on the head. It is commonly used in everyday conversations about personal grooming, hairstyles, and health. The term can also be found in contexts discussing beauty and fashion.
Frequency#790DifficultyMedium
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, hair is often associated with beauty and identity. Traditional practices, such as hair cutting or styling, can have cultural significance, especially during festivals or rites of passage.
Memory Tip
Imagine a 'head' (头, tóu) with 'fa' (发, fa) coming out of it like a glorious mane of hair. Visualize styling this hair in different ways to remember that 头发 means 'hair on the head'.
Meanings of 头发
tóufa(tou2fa5)
1hair (on the head)
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 头发
头发Simplified
頭髮Traditional
—Strokes
—Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#790Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L3HSK 3.0L3ElementaryTOCFLL2HSKKL1CEFRA1
Podcast: 头发
Podcast: 头发
Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you
New here?
AI Study Notes for 头发
Quick Contrast
毛发 (máofà) refers to hair in a more general sense, including body hair, while 头发 (tóufa) specifically denotes hair on the head.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a 'head' (头, tóu) with 'fa' (发, fa) coming out of it like a glorious mane of hair. Visualize styling this hair in different ways to remember that 头发 means 'hair on the head'.
Usage Notes
Be careful not to confuse 头发 with other words for hair, as it specifically refers to hair on the head. It's used in both formal and informal contexts, and common collocations include phrases like '洗头发' (wash hair) and '剪头发' (cut hair). Pay attention to the tones: 头 (tóu) is second tone, and 发 (fa) is fifth tone.
HSK Study Tips
As a HSK Level 3 word, 头发 connects to other body parts like 眼睛 (eyes) and 鼻子 (nose), which are also commonly learned. Focus on using it in sentences to describe hairstyles or personal grooming habits.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, hair is often associated with beauty and identity. Traditional practices, such as hair cutting or styling, can have cultural significance, especially during festivals or rites of passage.
Common Mistakes
Learners often mistakenly use 头发 in phrases that apply to body hair, like saying '我有很多头发在手臂上' (I have a lot of hair on my arms), which should be '毛' (máo) instead. Remember, 头发 is only for head hair.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 头发
Premium — Locked
AI tone practice
Pro
Drill the tone of 头发 with AI-powered exercises, get instant feedback, and earn XP toward mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.
New here? to save your writing progress and earn XP.
Practice writing 头发 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Write correctly 3 times to earn XP
Grammar Patterns of 头发
头发 functions as a noun — it names a person, place, thing, or concept. Place it as a subject before the verb (主+谓) or as an object after the verb (谓+宾). Most Chinese nouns require a measure word between the number and the noun (e.g. 一个/三本). The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
Dry curly hair naturally for maximum curl and shine.
10
他是个瘦高个，头发灰白。
tā shì gè shòu gāo gè， ， tóu fā huī。
He was a tall, thin man with grey hair.
Cultural Notes for 头发
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, hair is often associated with beauty and identity. Traditional practices, such as hair cutting or styling, can have cultural significance, especially during festivals or rites of passage.
Frequently Asked Questions about 头发
You can say '我需要剪头发' (wǒ xū yào jiǎn tóu fa).
头发 specifically refers to hair on the head, while 毛发 (máo fa) is a more general term that can refer to body hair or fur.
While 头发 is the standard term, in formal contexts you might refer to it as 发丝 (fà sī), which emphasizes the strands of hair.
