liètóu: 猎头 - Headhunter, Executive Search

• Keywords: 猎头, lietou, headhunter in Chinese, executive search China, Chinese recruiter, recruitment in China, Chinese job market, find a job in China, what is a lietou, lietou gongsi.
• Summary: Discover the meaning of 猎头 (liètóu), the modern Chinese term for a “headhunter” or “executive recruiter.” This page explains what a `猎头` does, its crucial role in China's competitive professional job market, and how the concept reflects the country's evolving business culture. Learn how to use the term correctly through practical examples, understand its cultural nuances, and see how it connects to key concepts like `招聘 (zhāopìn)` and `跳槽 (tiàocáo)`.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): liètóu
• Part of Speech: Noun
• HSK Level: N/A
• Concise Definition: A headhunter; an individual or firm specializing in recruiting high-level executives or specialized talent for companies.
• In a Nutshell: 猎头 (liètóu) is a direct and vivid loan-translation of the English term “headhunter.” It literally means “hunt head.” This doesn't refer to anything violent, but rather to the practice of actively “hunting” for the best “heads” – the top talent, senior managers, and specialists – to fill crucial roles within a company. It signifies a proactive, targeted, and often confidential approach to recruitment, distinct from general job advertising.

• 猎 (liè): This character means “to hunt” or “to pursue.” The left-side radical `犭(quǎn)` is the “dog” radical, often associated with animals or actions like hunting. It vividly paints a picture of seeking out and pursuing a target.
• 头 (tóu): This character means “head.” Beyond its literal meaning, it can also signify “leader,” “chief,” “first,” or “top.” For example, `老板头 (lǎobǎntóu)` means “boss,” and `第一名 (dì-yī míng)` means “first place.”

The two characters combine powerfully to mean “to hunt for heads,” a perfect conceptual match for the English “headhunter,” referring to the search for top leadership and talent.

The rise of the 猎头 (liètóu) industry is a relatively recent phenomenon in China, directly tied to its economic reforms and integration into the global marketplace since the 1990s. Its existence marks a significant shift in Chinese business culture. Traditionally, high-level positions might have been filled through internal promotions or personal networks, heavily relying on the concept of 关系 (guānxi). While `guānxi` is still important, the `猎头` introduces a more meritocratic and professionalized layer to recruitment. It signals that companies are willing to look outside their existing networks to find the absolute best candidate, a practice common in Western business. Compared to a “headhunter” in the West, the function of a `猎头` in China is nearly identical. However, a successful `猎头` in China must be exceptionally skilled at navigating subtle cultural dynamics. They often act as a crucial intermediary, managing expectations around salary and benefits, but also sensitively handling issues of 面子 (miànzi - “face” or reputation) for both the candidate and the hiring company. They bridge the gap between a direct, Western-style negotiation and a more relationship-focused Chinese approach.

The term 猎头 (liètóu) is standard vocabulary in any professional or business setting in China.

• Connotation: Being contacted by a `猎头` is almost always a positive experience. It is a form of professional validation, suggesting that your skills and experience are in high demand.
• Formality: It's a professional term used in conversations about careers, job searching, and corporate strategy. You will frequently hear it in offices, on professional networking sites like LinkedIn (领英 - Lǐngyīng), and in business news.
• Common Forms:
  • 猎头 (liètóu): The headhunter (person).
  • 猎头公司 (liètóu gōngsī): The headhunting firm/company.

• Example 1:
• 今天一个猎头联系我了，推荐了一个新职位。
• Pinyin: Jīntiān yí ge liètóu liánxì wǒ le, tuījiàn le yí ge xīn zhíwèi.
• English: A headhunter contacted me today and recommended a new position.
• Analysis: This is a very common and neutral statement. The particle `了 (le)` indicates a completed action.
• Example 2:
• 我姐姐在一家猎头公司工作，她非常忙。
• Pinyin: Wǒ jiějie zài yì jiā liètóu gōngsī gōngzuò, tā fēicháng máng.
• English: My older sister works at a headhunting firm; she is extremely busy.
• Analysis: This example uses the compound noun `猎头公司 (liètóu gōngsī)` to specify the type of company.
• Example 3:
• 公司决定通过猎头来寻找新的首席技术官。
• Pinyin: Gōngsī juédìng tōngguò liètóu lái xúnzhǎo xīn de shǒuxí jìshù guān.
• English: The company decided to find the new CTO through a headhunter.
• Analysis: This shows how companies use `猎头` for high-level positions (in this case, a CTO, or 首席技术官). `通过 (tōngguò)` means “through” or “by means of.”
• Example 4:
• 一位优秀的猎头需要有很强的人脉和沟通能力。
• Pinyin: Yí wèi yōuxiù de liètóu xūyào yǒu hěn qiáng de rénmài hé gōutōng nénglì.
• English: An excellent headhunter needs to have a strong personal network and communication skills.
• Analysis: This sentence describes the qualities of a good headhunter. `人脉 (rénmài)` is a key concept, meaning “personal network,” similar to `关系 (guānxi)`.
• Example 5:
• 他现在这份工作就是猎头帮忙找到的。
• Pinyin: Tā xiànzài zhè fèn gōngzuò jiùshì liètóu bāngmáng zhǎodào de.
• English: He got his current job with the help of a headhunter.
• Analysis: The structure `是…的 (shì…de)` is used here to emphasize the means by which he found the job (it was *by a headhunter*).
• Example 6:
• 这个职位的薪水很高，他们肯定会用猎头。
• Pinyin: Zhè ge zhíwèi de xīnshui hěn gāo, tāmen kěndìng huì yòng liètóu.
• English: The salary for this position is very high, they will definitely use a headhunter.
• Analysis: This shows a common assumption in the business world: high-stakes positions warrant the use of a `猎头`.
• Example 7:
• 你想跳槽吗？我可以把你的简历推荐给一个猎头朋友。
• Pinyin: Nǐ xiǎng tiàocáo ma? Wǒ kěyǐ bǎ nǐ de jiǎnlì tuījiàn gěi yí ge liètóu péngyou.
• English: Do you want to change jobs? I can recommend your résumé to a headhunter friend of mine.
• Analysis: This shows a practical use case in a slightly more informal, yet still professional, context between colleagues or friends.
• Example 8:
• 猎头问了我很多关于职业规划的问题。
• Pinyin: Liètóu wèn le wǒ hěn duō guānyú zhíyè guīhuà de wèntí.
• English: The headhunter asked me many questions about career planning.
• Analysis: This sentence describes a typical interaction during a screening call with a headhunter. `职业规划 (zhíyè guīhuà)` means “career planning.”
• Example 9:
• 随着经济发展，中国的猎头行业越来越成熟了。
• Pinyin: Suízhe jīngjì fāzhǎn, Zhōngguó de liètóu hángyè yuèláiyuè chéngshú le.
• English: Following economic development, China's headhunting industry has become more and more mature.
• Analysis: This sentence discusses the `猎头行业 (liètóu hángyè)`, or “headhunting industry,” as a whole.
• Example 10:
• 不是所有猎头都靠谱，你需要仔细甄别。
• Pinyin: Búshì suǒyǒu liètóu dōu kàopǔ, nǐ xūyào zǐxì zhēnbié.
• English: Not all headhunters are reliable; you need to vet them carefully.
• Analysis: This offers practical advice. `靠谱 (kàopǔ)` is a colloquial but very common word meaning “reliable” or “trustworthy.”

• Mistake: Confusing `猎头` with general recruiters.
  • A `猎头` is not the same as a company's internal `人力资源 (rénlì zīyuán)` (Human Resources) department or a recruiter who hires for all types of jobs. `猎头` is specifically for senior, executive, or highly specialized roles that are difficult to fill through normal channels. You would not use a `猎头` to find an entry-level administrative assistant.
• Mistake: Thinking the term has negative connotations.
  • Because of the literal translation “hunt head,” some learners might think the term is aggressive or negative. In reality, it is a completely standard, neutral, and professional term in the Chinese business world. There is no negative undertone.
• Nuance: The Role of `关系 (guānxi)`
  • While the term `猎头` is a direct loan-translation of “headhunter,” the practice in China can be subtly different. A good `猎头` doesn't just match skills on a résumé; they expertly navigate the cultural landscape. They leverage their own `人脉 (rénmài)` (network) and understand the importance of building trust and rapport, making them a critical cultural as well as professional intermediary.

• 招聘 (zhāopìn) - To recruit; hiring. This is the general term for recruitment of any kind, whereas `猎头` is a specific, high-level method.
• 跳槽 (tiàocáo) - To change jobs; to job-hop. This action is often facilitated by a `猎头`.
• 人才 (réncái) - Talent; a talented person. This is the “prey” that a `猎头` hunts for.
• 简历 (jiǎnlì) - Résumé; CV. This is the primary document a candidate provides to a `猎头`.
• 面试 (miànshì) - Job interview. The step that comes after a `猎头` successfully connects a candidate with a company.
• 猎头公司 (liètóu gōngsī) - A headhunting firm. The organization a `猎头` works for.
• 人力资源 (rénlì zīyuán) - Human Resources (HR). The internal department in a company responsible for hiring, often the client of a `猎头`.
• 高管 (gāoguǎn) - Senior executive. A shortened term for `高级管理人员 (gāojí guǎnlǐ rényuán)`, this is the typical target candidate for a `猎头`.
• 求职 (qiúzhí) - To look for a job. This is the activity of a job seeker, who might be contacted by a `猎头`.