低头

• Pinyin: dī tóu
• Hanzi breakdown: 低 = 亻(person) + 氐 (low); 头 = simplified from 頭, head

Meaning

To lower one's head; to bow one's head; to yield. Physical or metaphorical submission.

Literally means to lower or bow the head. Figuratively, it can mean to yield, submit, or give in to pressure. The phrase 低头族 (head-down tribe) refers to people constantly looking at their phones.

Examples

1. 他低头看手机，完全没注意到我在叫他。 He was looking down at his phone and didn't notice me calling him at all.
2. 面对困难她从不低头，一直坚持到最后。 She never gives in to difficulties and persists to the very end.
3. 孩子做错事后低着头不敢看爸爸。 After doing something wrong, the child hung his head and didn't dare look at his father.

Usage Guide

Context: action, submission

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 他低头认错了。(He bowed his head and admitted his mistake.)
• 我不会向命运低头。(I won't yield to fate.)

Don't Say

• 低头可以是物理动作也可以是比喻让步，要根据语境判断 (低头 can be a physical action or a metaphor for yielding — judge from context)

Origin & History

From 低 (low) and 头 (head), describing the action of lowering one's head.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal