Ways to say it
| Chinese | Romanization (Wiktionary) |
|---|---|
| 長 / 长 | zhǎng |
| 頭 / 头 | tóu |
The term 頭 / 头 literally means the body part "head", but it is used in compound words to denote the head or chief of a specific entity, such as the head of a department. The term 長 / 长 is used as a noun to signify a chief or a head.
Which one should you use?
長 / 长 functions as a noun meaning chief or head, whereas 頭 / 头 refers to the physical head but serves as a building block for terms meaning the head of a group. For formal contexts, you might encounter 首長 / 首长 (shǒuzhǎng) to denote a head of state or a formal organization head or 首席 to refer to a chief position or a chief executive officer. The term 领袖 translates to "leader" and can be used to refer to a chief or top figure.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Hong Kong and Macau, the term 頭目 is used to refer to a chief or boss, particularly in informal or criminal contexts. In Mainland China, the term 主席 is sometimes used to refer to a chief or leader in political or organizational settings.
How does it change in a sentence?
When using 長 / 长 as a noun meaning "chief" or "head", it is pronounced in the third tone: zhǎng.
How do you pronounce it?
zhǎng
Did you know?
- The word for 'head' or 'chief', 頭 / 头, might have originally referred to a 'skull' or a drinking vessel, similar to how the German word 'Kopf' is related to a 'drinking vessel'.
Examples in context
- 公司的首席执行官非常有远见和领导才能。The company's CEO has great vision and leadership skills.
- 帮派的大哥Gang Leader
- 他是这个帮派的大哥，所有人都要听从他的指挥。He is the leader of this gang, and everyone must follow his orders.
- 犯罪团伙的首领Criminal Gang Leader
- 警方终于逮捕了那个犯罪团伙的首领。The police finally arrested the leader of that criminal gang.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “chief” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 長, 頭, CC BY-SA 4.0.
