掉头
To make U-turn
Literalmente: Drop head / Turn head
Use '掉头' whenever you need to go back the way you came, especially when driving.
Em 15 segundos
- Used for physical 180-degree turns in a vehicle or walking.
- Essential for giving directions to taxi or Didi drivers.
- Commonly seen on road signs as '禁止掉头' (No U-turns).
Significado
This phrase literally means to turn your head around, but it is most commonly used when you are driving and need to make a U-turn. It can also be used figuratively when you decide to go back or change your mind about a path you are taking.
Exemplos-chave
3 de 6Giving directions to a taxi driver
师傅，麻烦在前面路口掉头。
Driver, please make a U-turn at the intersection ahead.
Walking with a friend and forgetting something
哎呀，我忘带钥匙了，快掉头回去！
Oh no, I forgot my keys, let's turn around and go back!
Reading a road sign aloud
这里写着‘禁止掉头’，我们去前面看看。
It says 'No U-turns' here, let's look further ahead.
Contexto cultural
The phrase reflects the rapid urbanization of China. As car ownership exploded, 'diào tóu' became a daily necessity in conversation. It also appears in classic literature to describe a person turning their head to look back, often with emotion.
The GPS Voice
If you use Baidu Maps or Amap in China, you will hear '请掉头' (Please make a U-turn) more than any other phrase. It's a great way to practice your listening!
Don't confuse with 转弯
Remember, '掉头' is a 180-degree turn. If you just want to turn left or right, use '左转' or '右转'.
Em 15 segundos
- Used for physical 180-degree turns in a vehicle or walking.
- Essential for giving directions to taxi or Didi drivers.
- Commonly seen on road signs as '禁止掉头' (No U-turns).
What It Means
掉头 (diào tóu) is your go-to phrase for changing direction. In a car, it is a literal U-turn. In life, it means heading back the way you came. It is simple, punchy, and very common.
How To Use It
Use it like a verb. You can say 在这里掉头 (make a U-turn here). You do not need complex grammar. Just pair it with a location. It is perfect for navigating with a driver. You will hear GPS voices screaming this at you constantly.
When To Use It
You use this primarily while driving or cycling. If you realize you missed your favorite milk tea shop, tell the driver to 掉头. It also works when walking with friends. If you realize you left your phone at the restaurant, say 我们要掉头. It is practical and immediate.
When NOT To Use It
Do not use this for changing your opinion in a debate. For changing your mind about an idea, use 改变主意. 掉头 is about physical direction. Do not use it if you are just turning a corner. That is 转弯. 掉头 is a full 180-degree move.
Cultural Background
In China, traffic can be chaotic. Finding a place where 掉头 is legal is a victory. You will see signs with a U-shaped arrow and a red slash. That means 禁止掉头 (No U-turns). Drivers often take creative liberties with this rule. It reflects the fast-paced, flexible nature of urban Chinese life.
Common Variations
You might hear 打头 in some southern dialects, but 掉头 is standard. In formal traffic reports, they use 掉头行驶. On a boat, it means turning the bow. Most of the time, you are just talking about a car.
Notas de uso
The phrase is very versatile and safe to use in almost any setting involving movement. It is neither too formal nor too slangy.
The GPS Voice
If you use Baidu Maps or Amap in China, you will hear '请掉头' (Please make a U-turn) more than any other phrase. It's a great way to practice your listening!
Don't confuse with 转弯
Remember, '掉头' is a 180-degree turn. If you just want to turn left or right, use '左转' or '右转'.
The 'Drop Head' Literalism
While '掉' can mean 'to drop' or 'to lose', in this context it means 'to turn'. Don't worry, nobody is losing their head!
Exemplos
6师傅，麻烦在前面路口掉头。
Driver, please make a U-turn at the intersection ahead.
A very standard way to direct a professional driver.
哎呀，我忘带钥匙了，快掉头回去！
Oh no, I forgot my keys, let's turn around and go back!
Used here for walking, showing the 180-degree change.
这里写着‘禁止掉头’，我们去前面看看。
It says 'No U-turns' here, let's look further ahead.
Identifying formal traffic prohibitions.
你走过了！快点掉头，我在你后面。
You passed it! Hurry and turn around, I'm behind you.
Urgent but friendly instruction.
人太多了，我们掉头逃跑吧！
There are too many people, let's turn around and escape!
Using the driving term for a funny dramatic effect while walking.
他没有掉头，一直向前走，再也没回来。
He didn't turn back; he kept walking forward and never returned.
Using the phrase to emphasize a lack of return.
Teste-se
Choose the correct phrase to tell a driver to turn around.
前面的路不通，请___。
Since the road is blocked (不通), you need to make a U-turn (掉头).
Identify the sign meaning 'No U-turn'.
看到这个标志，你不能___。
Traffic signs with a U-arrow crossed out prohibit '掉头'.
🎉 Pontuação: /2
Recursos visuais
Formality of 掉头
Walking with friends, realizing you forgot something.
走错了，掉头！
Giving directions to a Didi driver or GPS voice.
请在合适位置掉头。
Official traffic signs and regulations.
禁止掉头
Where to use 掉头
In a Taxi
师傅，掉头。
Walking
走错路了，掉头吧。
Cycling
前面可以掉头吗？
Reading Signs
禁止掉头。
Perguntas frequentes
10 perguntasMostly yes, but you can use it while walking or biking if you are making a full 180-degree turn back. For example, 我们掉头走吧 (Let's turn around and walk back).
Yes. 回头 usually means to literally turn your head to look behind you, or 'later' (as in 回头见). 掉头 is about changing your physical travel direction.
It means 'No U-turn'. You will see this on many street signs in Chinese cities.
Not really. For changing an opinion, use 改变主意. 掉头 is almost always about physical movement.
Yes, it is neutral. Adding 师傅 (shīfu) at the beginning and 麻烦你 (máfan nǐ) makes it much more polite.
You can say 在这里掉头 (Zài zhèlǐ diàotóu).
Not specifically, but in some regions, people might just say 绕回来 (rào huílái) which means 'loop back'.
The opposite would be 直行 (zhíxíng), which means to go straight.
Only if you are literally talking about logistics or transport. It's not a common business metaphor for 'pivoting'.
In this specific collocation, 掉 acts as a verb for shifting or rotating, much like how 'drop' in English can sometimes mean to move something down or away.
Frases relacionadas
左转 (Turn left)
右转 (Turn right)
直走 (Go straight)
回头 (Look back / Later)
转弯 (To turn a corner)
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