抬头

• Pinyin: tái tóu
• Hanzi breakdown: 抬 = 扌(hand) + 台 (phonetic); 头 = 大 + 一 + 丶, simplified from 頭 (head)

Meaning

To raise one's head; to look up. Also: the heading or addressee on a document or invoice.

Literally means to lift the head and look up. Figuratively used to describe improvement or recovery (抬起头来 = hold your head high). In business, 抬头 refers to the payee name on invoices or the addressee on formal documents.

Examples

1. 她一直低着头看手机，偶尔抬头看看窗外的风景。 She kept looking down at her phone, occasionally looking up to see the scenery outside.
2. 经历了那么多困难，他终于可以抬头做人了。 After going through so many difficulties, he can finally hold his head high.
3. 开发票的时候请把抬头写成公司全称。 When issuing the invoice, please write the company's full name as the heading.

Usage Guide

Context: everyday, business, emotional

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 抬头看黑板。(Look up at the blackboard.)
• 发票抬头是什么？(What's the invoice heading?)

Don't Say

• 把脸抬头 — 抬头 already implies raising the head/face; don't add 脸 redundantly

Origin & History

Compound of 抬 (to lift/raise) + 头 (head), literally meaning to raise one's head.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal