shuǐlóngtóu: 水龙头 - Faucet, Tap

• Keywords: shuilongtou, shuǐlóngtóu, 水龙头, Chinese for faucet, Chinese for tap, water dragon head, Chinese kitchen tap, bathroom faucet in Chinese, learn Chinese vocabulary
• Summary: 水龙头 (shuǐlóngtóu) is the standard Mandarin Chinese word for a “faucet” or “tap.” Literally translating to “water dragon head,” this common noun beautifully illustrates how Chinese vocabulary can be both practical and rich with cultural imagery. This page explores its meaning, cultural origins, and practical use in everyday situations like fixing a leak or washing your hands.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): shuǐ lóng tóu
• Part of Speech: Noun
• HSK Level: HSK 4
• Concise Definition: A device for controlling the flow of water from a pipe; a faucet or tap.
• In a Nutshell: This is the go-to word for any tap you'd find in a kitchen, bathroom, or garden. While its literal meaning is “water dragon head,” it's used exactly like the English word “faucet.” The name comes from the historical design of ornate spouts, which were often cast in the shape of a dragon's head, a creature deeply associated with water in Chinese culture.

• 水 (shuǐ): This character means “water.” It's one of the most fundamental characters, originally a pictogram of flowing water.
• 龙 (lóng): This character means “dragon.” In Chinese mythology, dragons are powerful, benevolent beings who control water and rain. They are symbols of power, luck, and strength.
• 头 (tóu): This character means “head.”
• Combined Meaning: Together, 水龙头 (shuǐ lóng tóu) literally means “water dragon's head.” This vivid imagery evokes the picture of water pouring from the mouth of a mythical dragon, a fitting description for old, decorative spigots and a name that has stuck for all modern faucets.

The term 水龙头 is a fantastic window into how culture shapes everyday language. While the English words “faucet” (from Old French, meaning “to bore”) and “tap” (from Old English) are purely functional, the Chinese term is imbued with deep cultural symbolism. Dragons (龙, lóng) in China are not the fire-breathing monsters of Western lore. They are divine, auspicious creatures who dwell in rivers, lakes, and oceans, commanding the weather and bringing rain. The Dragon King (龙王, Lóng Wáng) is a major deity in Chinese folk religion. Therefore, linking the source of household water to a dragon's head is a natural and poetic connection. It elevates a mundane household object with a touch of myth and reverence for nature's most powerful water-bringer. This contrasts sharply with the Western approach, where engineering and function dictate the name. For a learner, understanding this small difference reveals a broader pattern: Chinese can often be more pictorial and metaphorical, even in its most common vocabulary.

水龙头 is a very common, neutral, and practical word used in all contexts, from casual conversation to technical manuals.

• In Daily Conversation: You use it just like you'd use “faucet” or “tap.” For example, asking someone to turn the tap on or off, or complaining about a leaky faucet.
  • `把水龙头打开。 (Bǎ shuǐlóngtóu dǎkāi.)` - Turn on the faucet.
  • `水龙头坏了，一直在漏水。 (Shuǐlóngtóu huài le, yīzhí zài lòushuǐ.)` - The faucet is broken, it's been leaking constantly.
• Specifying Types: You can add adjectives before it to be more specific.
  • `厨房水龙头 (chúfáng shuǐlóngtóu)` - Kitchen faucet
  • `浴室水龙头 (yùshì shuǐlóngtóu)` - Bathroom faucet
  • `冷水/热水水龙头 (lěngshuǐ/rèshuǐ shuǐlóngtóu)` - Cold water / Hot water tap
  • `感应式水龙头 (gǎnyìngshì shuǐlóngtóu)` - Sensor/automatic faucet

• Example 1:
  • 走之前别忘了关水龙头。
  • Pinyin: Zǒu zhīqián bié wàng le guān shuǐlóngtóu.
  • English: Don't forget to turn off the faucet before you leave.
  • Analysis: A very common and practical instruction. `关 (guān)` means “to close” or “to turn off.”
• Example 2:
  • 这个水龙头有点松，我得找人来修一下。
  • Pinyin: Zhège shuǐlóngtóu yǒudiǎn sōng, wǒ děi zhǎo rén lái xiū yīxià.
  • English: This faucet is a bit loose, I need to find someone to come and fix it.
  • Analysis: `松 (sōng)` means “loose,” a common way to describe a problem with a faucet. `修 (xiū)` means “to repair.”
• Example 3:
  • 你能帮我把厨房的水龙头开大一点吗？水流太小了。
  • Pinyin: Nǐ néng bāng wǒ bǎ chúfáng de shuǐlóngtóu kāi dà yīdiǎn ma? Shuǐliú tài xiǎo le.
  • English: Can you help me turn the kitchen faucet on a bit more? The water flow is too weak.
  • Analysis: `开大一点 (kāi dà yīdiǎn)` means “to open a bit bigger” or “turn up.” `水流 (shuǐliú)` means “water flow.”
• Example 4:
  • 我在水龙头下冲了冲手。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ zài shuǐlóngtóu xià chōng le chōng shǒu.
  • English: I quickly rinsed my hands under the faucet.
  • Analysis: The structure `在…下 (zài…xià)` means “under…” `冲 (chōng)` means “to rinse.” The repetition `冲了冲 (chōng le chōng)` indicates a quick, brief action.
• Example 5:
  • 新公寓的水龙头是感应式的，很方便。
  • Pinyin: Xīn gōngyù de shuǐlóngtóu shì gǎnyìngshì de, hěn fāngbiàn.
  • English: The faucets in the new apartment are sensor-activated, it's very convenient.
  • Analysis: `感应式 (gǎnyìngshì)` means “sensor-activated type,” a useful modern vocabulary word.
• Example 6:
  • 这个水龙头只能出冷水。
  • Pinyin: Zhège shuǐlóngtóu zhǐ néng chū lěngshuǐ.
  • English: This faucet only puts out cold water.
  • Analysis: `出 (chū)` here means “to produce” or “to put out.” `只能 (zhǐ néng)` means “can only.”
• Example 7:
  • 他拧紧了水龙头，但还是在滴水。
  • Pinyin: Tā nǐngjǐn le shuǐlóngtóu, dànshì háishì zài dīshuǐ.
  • English: He tightened the faucet, but it was still dripping.
  • Analysis: `拧紧 (nǐngjǐn)` is the specific verb for “to tighten by twisting.” `滴水 (dīshuǐ)` means “to drip water.”
• Example 8:
  • 我们需要买一个新的浴室水龙头。
  • Pinyin: Wǒmen xūyào mǎi yī gè xīn de yùshì shuǐlóngtóu.
  • English: We need to buy a new bathroom faucet.
  • Analysis: Demonstrates how to specify the location. `浴室 (yùshì)` means bathroom.
• Example 9:
  • 这瓶水是我从水龙头接的。
  • Pinyin: Zhè píng shuǐ shì wǒ cóng shuǐlóngtóu jiē de.
  • English: I filled this bottle of water from the tap.
  • Analysis: `接水 (jiē shuǐ)` is the verb for “to catch water” or “to fill with water.” This shows the faucet as the source.
• Example 10:
  • 半夜里我被水龙头的滴水声吵醒了。
  • Pinyin: Bànyè lǐ wǒ bèi shuǐlóngtóu de dīshuǐshēng chǎoxǐng le.
  • English: I was woken up in the middle of the night by the sound of the dripping faucet.
  • Analysis: Uses the passive `被 (bèi)` structure. `滴水声 (dīshuǐshēng)` is “the sound of dripping water.”

• Don't Confuse the Faucet with the Water: This is the most common mistake for learners. 水龙头 refers to the physical device, not the water that comes out of it. The water from the tap is called 自来水 (zìláishuǐ), literally “self-come water.”
  • Incorrect: `我喝了水龙头。` (Wǒ hē le shuǐlóngtóu.) - This means “I drank the faucet.” (the metal object!)
  • Correct: `我喝了自来水。` (Wǒ hē le zìláishuǐ.) - “I drank tap water.”
  • Correct: `我从水龙头接了点儿水喝。` (Wǒ cóng shuǐlóngtóu jiē le diǎnr shuǐ hē.) - “I got a little water from the faucet to drink.”
• Literal vs. Actual Meaning: While the literal translation is “water dragon head,” no one in China is picturing a mythical beast when they ask you to turn off the tap. It's a completely conventional and mundane word. The cultural origin is fascinating, but in practice, it's just a faucet.

• 自来水 (zìláishuǐ) - Tap water. The water that comes out of the 水龙头.
• 水管 (shuǐguǎn) - Water pipe. The pipe that connects to the faucet.
• 水槽 (shuǐcáo) - Sink. The basin where the faucet is typically mounted. Also called a 洗手池 (xǐshǒuchí) or 洗碗池 (xǐwǎnchí).
• 漏水 (lòushuǐ) - To leak water. A common verb used to describe a problem with a 水龙头.
• 阀门 (fámén) - Valve. A more general or technical term for a device that controls the flow of liquid or gas. A faucet is a type of valve.
• 莲蓬头 (liánpéngtóu) - Showerhead. Literally “lotus seed pod head,” another example of vivid, nature-based imagery in everyday Chinese vocabulary.
• 厨房 (chúfáng) - Kitchen. A common location for a 水龙头.
• 浴室 (yùshì) - Bathroom. Another common location for a 水龙头.