The Noun Suffix 头 in 木头, 里头 and 看头

Pattern

root + 头 (neutral tone tou) → noun: 木头, 里头, 看头

Suffix 头 is light and toneless: it makes nouns, and no longer means “head”.

这张桌子是木头做的。

When to use The Noun Suffix 头 in 木头, 里头 and 看头

As a suffix, 头 is read in the neutral tone (tou) and no longer means “head”. It turns a root into an ordinary noun: 木 + 头 = 木头 “wood”, 石头 “stone”, 馒头 “steamed bun”. After direction words it makes place words: 里头 “inside”, 外头 “outside”, 前头 “in front”. After some verbs and adjectives it makes abstract nouns, usually with 有 or 没(有)什么: 没什么看头 “nothing worth watching”.

小心，路上有块大石头。

Careful, there’s a big rock on the road.

早饭我吃了两个馒头。

I had two steamed buns for breakfast.

外头冷，你多穿点儿。

It’s cold outside; put on another layer.

箱子里头装的都是书。

The box is full of books.

Common traps

Read the suffix in the neutral tone: 木头 is mùtou, not mùtóu.
Don’t add 头 to any noun you like: say 桌子, not 桌头; 头 words are fixed and learned one by one.
Use verb + 头 with 有 or 没什么: 这本书没什么看头, not 这本书不看头.

Targeted drill

Practice this exact pattern before moving on.

这件事很有看。

This is worth watching. Complete the noun for something interesting to see

tou

Meanings

noun suffix, read in the neutral tone (as a full word: tóu, head)

Fill in the missing piece, then press Enter

When to use The Noun Suffix 头 in 木头, 里头 and 看头

Common traps

Targeted drill

Keep this pattern in review.