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領頭

简领头 · 繁領頭

Mandarin · pinyin lǐng tóu

to take the lead
to be first to start

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Characters in this entry

領: Look up this written character
頭: tóu · head; top; chief, first; boss
领: lǐng · neck; collar; lead, guide
头: tóu · head; top; chief, first; boss

Written characters and their own readings; the entry’s pronunciation is shown above.

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Mandarin tones

3–2 · ling3 tou2

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Read this spelling in Classical texts

Follow a written form into the eight pinned witnesses: Analects, Mencius, Laozi, Zhuangzi, Xunzi, Han Feizi, Sunzi and the Mao Shijing. A match is a place to investigate; it does not prove that a modern dictionary sense fits the passage.

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Compare dictionary sources Wiktionary · 3 senses

Wiktionary English definitions · Chinese section

Independent source senses for this spelling, with usage labels retained. Not matched to the pronunciation above.

verb

(colloquial) to take the lead; to show initiative; to be the first; to set an example

noun

(literary) leader; chief; chieftain
(Northern Min, Eastern Min, Wu) collar (of a shirt)

Source page · dump 2026-09-02 · Contributors & history

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