Head

It means “head”; the whole word sets the sense.

In Chinese, 頭 can name the body part, a front or top, a leader, or the beginning of something; in some compounds it works as a suffix without a literal “head” meaning. Japanese uses atama for the standalone word, while compounds can use another reading. Korean uses the Sino-Korean reading du (두).

How did 頭 develop?

It developed through successive forms in early Chinese writing.

Shuowen Jiezi, an early Chinese character dictionary, analyzes 頭 as 頁, the head-related meaning component, plus 豆, a sound component, and defines it as “head.” In plain terms, one part points to meaning and the other to sound; the character is not simply a drawing of a head.

A bronze inscription form is documented from the late Spring-and-Autumn period, a period in early Chinese history. Later examples include Chu manuscripts and Qin/Han written forms. Chu was an ancient Chinese state; Qin and Han were dynasties. These records show the written form changing over time.

Is 頭 traditional or simplified?

頭 is traditional Chinese; 头 is its simplified counterpart. The simplified form 头 developed from a cursive abbreviation of 頭. Japanese and Korean texts also use 頭; 头 is specifically the simplified Chinese form. Choose the form that matches the Chinese text.