noun HSK 2
Traditional 頭髮
hair (on the head)
Meaning
头发 refers specifically to the hair that grows on a person's head. It is a compound word combining 头 (head) and 发 (hair). This is the standard term used in everyday conversation when talking about someone's hair, its color, length, style, or condition.
Usage
头发 is used in casual and formal contexts alike. Native speakers commonly discuss 头发's length (长/短), color (黑/白), or style (直/卷). Note that 发 loses its tone and becomes neutral tone (fa) in this compound. The word is uncountable in Chinese; individual strands are counted as 根.
Examples
- 01她的头发又黑又长。.Her hair is both black and long.
- 02我需要去理发店剪头发了。.I need to go to the barbershop to get a haircut.
Characters
Measure words
- 根一根头发
Common collocations
- 剪头发to cut hair
- 洗头发to wash hair
- 长头发long hair
- 黑头发black hair
Origin
头发 literally means 'head hair,' distinguishing it from body hair elsewhere. The character 发/髮 originally depicted long flowing hair and has been used for hair since ancient times.