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拳头 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
拳头quántóufistHSK 7, n, rank #5186, Hard
拳头quántóuclenched fistHSK 7, n, rank #5186, Hard
拳头quántóu>个[gè]HSK 7, n, rank #5186, Hard
拳头quántóucompetitive (product)HSK 7, n, rank #5186, Hard
quántóu(quan2tou2) T2
  1. 1fist
  2. 2clenched fist
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March 24, 2026
拳头(拳頭)quántóu(quan2tou2)

拳头 (quántóu) means 'fist' in Mandarin, referring specifically to a clenched hand. It is commonly used in both literal and metaphorical contexts, such as expressing strength or determination, and can also refer to competitive products in a business context.

Frequency#5186DifficultyHard
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, the image of a clenched fist can symbolize unity and determination, often seen in martial arts and sports, where strength and vigor are highly valued.

Memory Tip

Imagine a strong, powerful fist (拳) ready to strike. The character 拳 has the radical for 'hand' (扌) on the left, indicating its connection to action, while 头 (tóu) means 'head', suggesting the fist is the head of action or effort. Picture a boxer raising their fist in victory to remember '拳头'.

Meanings of 拳头

quántóu(quan2tou2)
1fist
2clenched fist
Exercise 1 of 2

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About 拳头

拳头Simplified
拳頭Traditional
—Strokes
—Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#5186Frequency Rank
个Measure Word
HSK 2.0L6HSK 3.0L7AdvancedBCT✓CEFRC2

Podcast: 拳头

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Podcast: 拳头

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AI Study Notes for 拳头

Quick Contrast

拳 (quán) vs 拳头 (quántóu) — use 拳头 to emphasize the physical aspect of a fist, while 拳 may refer to the concept of a fist in a more abstract or general sense.

Memory Mnemonic

Imagine a strong, powerful fist (拳) ready to strike. The character 拳 has the radical for 'hand' (扌) on the left, indicating its connection to action, while 头 (tóu) means 'head', suggesting the fist is the head of action or effort. Picture a boxer raising their fist in victory to remember '拳头'.

Usage Notes

拳头 is typically used in informal contexts when referring to physical strength or fighting, while in business discussions, it can imply the leading or competitive edge of a product. Be careful with pronunciation; learners often confuse the tones, leading to misunderstandings.

HSK Study Tips

As an HSK 6 word, 拳头 connects well with other advanced vocabulary related to competition, strength, and physicality. Students should focus on its usage in both literal and metaphorical contexts to enhance fluency.

Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, the image of a clenched fist can symbolize unity and determination, often seen in martial arts and sports, where strength and vigor are highly valued.

Common Mistakes

Learners often misuse 拳头 in formal contexts, where it may sound too colloquial. For example, saying '这是一份拳头报告' (This is a fist report) should be corrected to '这是一份重要报告' (This is an important report).

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 拳头

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Component Characters

拳quánfist
HSK 710 strokes手
View full entry
头tóuhead
HSK 25 strokes大
View full entry

Write 拳头

拳
头

Practice writing 拳头 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

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Grammar Patterns of 拳头

拳头 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). It carries 4 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.

Exercise 1 of 4

Complete the Sentence

别说我活该，不然让你尝尝我的____。

Don't say it serves me right or I'll thump you.

Example Sentences for 拳头 (10)

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1
别说我活该，不然让你尝尝我的拳头。

bié shuō wǒ huó gāi， ， bù rán ràng nǐ cháng cháng wǒ de quán。

Don't say it serves me right or I'll thump you.
2
警方认为她是被凶手活活用拳头打死的。

jǐng fāng rèn wéi tā shì bèi xiōng shǒu huó huó yòng quán tóu dǎ sǐ de。

Police believe the killer punched her to death with his bare hands.
3
布赖恩的脸鼓得像个拳头。

bù lài ēn de liǎn gǔ dé xiàng gè quán tóu。

Brian's face balled up like a fist.
4
他们像小学生一样，在地板上滚来滚去，互相挥着拳头揍对方。

tā mén xiàng xiǎo xué shēng yī yàng， ， zài dì bǎn shàng gǔn lái gǔn， qù ， hù xiāng huī zháo quán tóu zòu。

They just rolled about on the floor punching each other like schoolboys.
5
她挥了挥拳头，“我要让你看看，”她说。

tā huī le huī quán tóu，“ ，“ wǒ yào ràng nǐ kàn，” kàn ，”。

She shook her fist. "I'll show you," she said.
6
在他求救的同时我能听到拳头落下的声音。

zài tā qiú jiù de tóng shí wǒ néng tīng dào quán tóu luò xià de shēng yīn。

I could hear the blows landing as he appealed for help.
7
开头还好好的，后来不知是谁动了拳头。

kāi tóu huán hǎo hǎo de， ， hòu lái bù zhī shì shuí dòng le quán。

Everything was fine until someone threw a punch.
8
她举着拳头，大步迈向他们。

tā jǔ zháo quán tóu， ， dà bù mài xiàng tā。

She strode towards them, her fist upraised.
9
富兰克紧握拳头,冲动地说.

fù lán kè jǐn wò quán tóu, , chōng dòng dì.

Frank clenched his fist and broke out in excitement.
10
我的拳头斜擦着他的下巴而过。

wǒ de quán tóu xié cā zháo tā de xià bā ér guò。

My fist glanced off his jaw.

Cultural Notes for 拳头

🏮Cultural insight

In Chinese culture, the image of a clenched fist can symbolize unity and determination, often seen in martial arts and sports, where strength and vigor are highly valued.

🌏Cross-cultural Insight

In Western cultures, a clenched fist often conveys aggression or defiance, whereas in Chinese culture, it can also represent solidarity and strength in a more positive context.

Frequently Asked Questions about 拳头

You can say '他用拳头打了对手' (He hit his opponent with his fist).