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March 24, 2026
理发(理髮)lǐfà(li3fa4)
理发 (lǐfà) refers to the act of cutting or styling hair, typically performed by a barber or hairdresser. It is commonly used in contexts related to personal grooming and beauty services. This term can also imply the process of getting a haircut, emphasizing the service aspect of hairdressing.
Frequency#9340DifficultyMedium
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, maintaining a well-groomed appearance is significant, and regular visits to the barber are common. Many Chinese cities feature both traditional barbershops and modern hair salons, reflecting the blend of cultural practices.
Memory Tip
Visualize a '理' (lǐ) which looks like a person holding scissors, and '发' (fà) resembles hair flowing down. Imagine the person '理' (managing) the '发' (hair) with a pair of scissors, reminding you of the pronunciation 'lǐfà'—like 'lee-fah'.
Meanings of 理发
lǐfà(li3fa4)
1a barber
2hairdressing
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About 理发
理发Simplified
理髮Traditional
—Strokes
—Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#9340Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L4HSK 3.0L4ElementaryTOCFLL3HSKKL2CEFRA2
Podcast: 理发
Podcast: 理发
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AI Study Notes for 理发
Quick Contrast
剪发 (jiǎnfà) - use 理发 (lǐfà) when emphasizing the service aspect of hairdressing, while 剪发 (jiǎnfà) focuses more on the act of cutting hair itself.
Memory Mnemonic
Visualize a '理' (lǐ) which looks like a person holding scissors, and '发' (fà) resembles hair flowing down. Imagine the person '理' (managing) the '发' (hair) with a pair of scissors, reminding you of the pronunciation 'lǐfà'—like 'lee-fah'.
Usage Notes
Be cautious with the tone when pronouncing 理发, as a mispronunciation could lead to confusion. This term is often used in informal settings, but can also be appropriate in formal contexts when discussing grooming. Common collocations include phrases like '去理发' (qù lǐfà) meaning 'to go get a haircut'.
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK Level 4 word, 理发 connects with other vocabulary around personal care and services. Focus on practicing this word in sentences related to daily routines, such as discussing preferences in hairstyles or barbershops.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, maintaining a well-groomed appearance is significant, and regular visits to the barber are common. Many Chinese cities feature both traditional barbershops and modern hair salons, reflecting the blend of cultural practices.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 理发 with 头发 (tóufa), which means 'hair' rather than the act of cutting it. A common mistake is saying '我去头发' when it should be '我去理发' (I am going to get a haircut).
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 理发
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Grammar Patterns of 理发
理发 functions as a verb — the action or state of the sentence. The Chinese order is Subject + Verb + Object (我吃饭). Negate it with 不 (habitual / future) or 没(有) (completed action). Add aspect markers like 了, 过, 着 directly after the verb. It carries 2 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
Your hair is all right; it's just that you need a haircut.
Example Sentences for 理发 (10)
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1
你的头发还好；不过你该理发了。
nǐ de tóu fā huán hǎo； ； bù guò nǐ gāi lǐ fā。
Your hair is all right; it's just that you need a haircut.
2
附近是不是新开了一家理发店？
fù jìn shì bù shì xīn kāi le yī jiā lǐ fā diàn？
Did a new hairdressing shop open close by?
3
我在这家新开的理发店工作。
wǒ zài zhè jiā xīn kāi de lǐ fā diàn gōng zuò。
I work in this new hairdresser's.
4
她不得不叫个理发师来给他刮脸。
tā bù dé bù jiào gè lǐ fā shī lái gěi tā guā liǎn。
She had to call a barber to shave him.
5
她叫理发师把她的头发剪短了.
tā jiào lǐ fā shī bǎ tā de tóu fā jiǎn duǎn le.
She asked the barber to crop her hair short.
6
我叫理发师把头发修剪一下.
wǒ jiào lǐ fā shī bǎ tóu fā xiū jiǎn yī xià.
I asked the barber for a trim.
7
你为什么不去理发, 你简直像朵菊花了.
nǐ wéi shí mó bù qù lǐ fā, , nǐ jiǎn zhí xiàng duǒ jú huā.
Why do not you get a haircut, you look like a chrysanthemum.
8
你理发了，看起来很棒。
nǐ lǐ fā le， ， kàn qǐ lái hěn。
You've had your hair cut, it looks great.
9
方才我拾起那几封信的时候, 德雷格理发店的铃声响起来了.
fāng cái wǒ shí qǐ nà jī fēng xìn de shí hòu, , dé léi gé lǐ fā diàn de líng shēng xiǎng qǐ lái.
Picking up the letters, Drago's shopbell ringing.
10
经理发觉了他的不轨行为,打算炒他鱿鱼.
jīng lǐ fā jué le tā de bù guǐ háng wéi, , dǎ suàn chǎo tā yóu.
The manager had found him out and was going to sack him.
Cultural Notes for 理发
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, maintaining a well-groomed appearance is significant, and regular visits to the barber are common. Many Chinese cities feature both traditional barbershops and modern hair salons, reflecting the blend of cultural practices.
Frequently Asked Questions about 理发
理发 generally refers to the broader act of getting a haircut, while 剪头发 specifically means 'to cut hair'.
You can say, '我想理一个...发型' (wǒ xiǎng lǐ yī gè... fàxíng), meaning 'I would like to get a... hairstyle'.
