Chinese word

手头

Pronunciation

Pinyinshǒu tóu

Meaning

  • nounon hand

Example

我手头没有零钱。wǒ shǒu tóu méi yǒu líng qián

I don't have any change on hand.

Illustration for 手头 (on hand)

More examples

月底了，我手头有点紧，先不参加聚会。yuè dǐ le wǒ shǒu tóu yóu diǎn jǐn xiān bù cān jiā jù huì

It's the end of the month, and I'm a little short on cash, so I won't attend the gathering for now.

Core concept

Resources kept close enough to be used immediately, especially current money or useful supplies.

Common phrases

  • 手头紧shǒu tóu jǐn

    short on cash

  • 手头宽裕shǒu tóu kuān yù

    financially comfortable

Similar words

现金xiàn jīn: Physical money in the form of coins or banknotes for immediate payment.
零钱líng qián: Coins and small-value notes used as change or for small purchases.
存款cún kuǎn: Money placed in and held in a bank account.
身上shēn shàng: Money or belongings carried with a person.

Definition in Chinese

在手里或容易取得的东西，通常指当前可用的资金或物品。zài shóu lǐ huò róng yì qǔ dé de dōng xī tōng cháng zhǐ dāng qián kě yòng de zī jīn huò wù pǐn

Word origin

手 (shǒu, "hand") + 头 (tóu, "head") forms 手头 (shǒutóu, "at hand"), with 头 marking a nearby position and the compound extending from what is by the hand to resources available now.

Usage tips

  • In everyday conversation, this word often describes current cash or supplies rather than a physical location, so it is useful when discussing what is readily available at present.

Related words

  • 手头钱shǒu tóu qiáncash on handnoun

Word lists with this word