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乌头

烏頭
wūtóu
noun #34,656

Meanings

  1. 1 aconite; monkshood (genus Aconitum, a poisonous medicinal plant)
  2. 2 a black-haired head - by extension, one's youth

Examples

HSK 6
乌头有毒，但加工后可以入药。
Wūtóu yǒudú, dàn jiāgōng hòu kěyǐ rùyào.
Aconite is poisonous, but when processed it can be used as medicine.
HSK 6
乌头白发，岁月催人。
Wūtóu báifà, suìyuè cuī rén.
From black hair to white - time presses on us all.

Tips

culture
In traditional Chinese medicine 乌头 (Aconitum carmichaelii root) is a famous 大毒 (highly toxic) herb that must be carefully processed (炮制) before use - its derivatives 附子 and 川乌 are core 'warming yang' drugs. Improperly prepared, it has caused many fatal poisonings.
memory
Two unrelated meanings collide here: literally 乌 (black) + 头 (head) = 'a black-haired head' - used poetically for youthful black hair, often paired with 白发 (white hair) to evoke aging. The plant name comes from the seed shape resembling a crow's (乌) head.

Stroke Order

乌 wū
头 tóu