Meaning and Usage
"手头" literally means "at hand" or "on hand." It is commonly used to refer to things or resources currently available or in possession, especially money or materials.
Common Contexts
- Financial situations: "手头紧" means having limited money available.
- Work or study: referring to materials or tasks currently being handled.
Collocations and Patterns
Usage Notes
"手头" emphasizes immediacy and availability. It often appears in informal or everyday contexts. Avoid confusing it with "手头上," which is a more formal or literary variant but less common in speech.
Common Confusion
Do not confuse "手头" with "手头儿" (a colloquial variant) or "手头上," which may appear in written texts. "手头" is the most straightforward and widely used form in spoken Mandarin.