Chinese–EnglishWith examples

掉头

diào tóu · diao tou

Traditional 掉頭

HSK 7–9

Meaning

CC-CEDICT
  1. to turn one's head
  2. to turn round
  3. to turn about
Embed this word

Put this word on your class page or blog. Keep the link under the frame, so people can find the word. More widgets

In a conversation

0:18 cartoon

The U-turn

  1. Dengdeng

    我们(wǒmen)走错(zǒucuò)了(le)，前面(qiánmiàn)掉头(diàotóu)吧(ba)。

    We went the wrong way. Make a U-turn ahead.

  2. Liangliang

    这里(zhèlǐ)不能(bùnéng)掉头(diàotóu)。

    You can't make a U-turn here.

  3. Dengdeng

    那(nà)再(zài)开(kāi)一公里(yīgōnglǐ)。

    Then drive one more kilometre.

  4. Liangliang

    看(kàn)，那儿(nàr)可以(kěyǐ)掉头(diàotóu)。

    Look, you can make a U-turn there.

  5. Dengdeng

    好(hǎo)，掉头(diàotóu)！

    OK, U-turn!

  6. Liangliang

    等一下(děngyīxià)，刚才(gāngcái)那(nà)条(tiáo)路(lù)其实(qíshí)是(shì)对(duì)的(de)。

    Wait. That road earlier was actually the right one.

Tap a word for its meaning in this line. The characters’ voices are computer-generated.

In a sentence

2 examples
01

他(tā)听(tīng)到(dào)有(yǒu)人(rén)叫(jiào)他(tā)，立(lì)刻(kè)掉(diào)头(tóu)往(wǎng)后(hòu)看(kàn)。

When he heard someone call him, he immediately turned his head to look back.

02

前(qián)面(miàn)在(zài)修(xiū)路(lù)，我(wǒ)们(men)只(zhǐ)好(hǎo)掉(diào)头(tóu)回(huí)去(qu)。

The road ahead is under repair, so we had to turn around and go back.

Sources & licenses

How to write

Choose a character to watch its strokes or trace it yourself.

Mainland China stroke order, including traditional characters. Drawing sources & licenses.

Definitions adapted from CC-CEDICT, published by MDBG and its contributors, under CC BY-SA 4.0. Pinyin display and entry grouping have been adapted.

Browse all wordsExplore words in context