HSK · Level 93
45 words
Chinese word
矛头
Pronunciation
Pinyinmáo tóu
Meaning
- nountarget of attack
Example
记者把矛头对准了领导层。jì zhě bǎ máo tóu duì zhǔn le líng dǎo céng
The reporter directed the attack at the leadership.
More examples
社交媒体上，网友把矛头集中在不透明的流程上。shè jiāo méi tǐ shàng wáng yǒu bǎ máo tóu jí zhōng zài bú tòu míng de liú chéng shàng
On social media, users focused their attack on the opaque process.
Core concept
The forward point where an attack or criticism is directed, like the tip of a spear.
Common phrases
矛头集中在máo tóu jí zhōng zài
focus one's attack on
把矛头指向bǎ máo tóu zhǐ xiàng
point one's attack at
Similar words
焦点jiāo diǎn: The center of attention or interest.
目标mù biāo: The specific goal that an action or plan aims to achieve.
对象duì xiàng: The person or thing that an action or criticism is directed toward.
Definition in Chinese
矛头原指矛的尖端，引申为攻击或批评所指向的对象或重点。máo tóu yuán zhǐ máo de jiān duān yǐn shēn wèi gōng jī huò pī píng suǒ zhǐ xiàng de duì xiàng huò zhòng diǎn
Word origin
矛 (máo, "spear") + 头 (tóu, "head or tip") literally names a spear's pointed end, which becomes a metaphor for the main focus of an attack or criticism.
Usage tips
- English often uses a verb such as target, turn, or direct where Chinese uses this noun for the focus of criticism or attack.
Other meanings
- spearheadnoun
Opposites
- 护盾hù dùnshieldnoun