頭路

頭路

1. (colloquial) clue
2. (colloquial) way of doing something
3. (archaic) mate; partner

   • 定哥笑道：「據你這般說，我如今另尋一個頭路去做新媳婦，作興女待詔做個媒人，你這妮子做個從嫁罷。」 [Written Vernacular Chinese, trad.]
     定哥笑道：“据你这般说，我如今另寻一个头路去做新媳妇，作兴女待诏做个媒人，你这妮子做个从嫁罢。” [Written Vernacular Chinese, simp.]

     From: Feng Menglong, Stories to Awaken the World, 1627 CE

     Dìnggē xiào dào: “Jù nǐ zhèbān shuō, wǒ rújīn lìng xún yī ge tóulù qù zuò xīn xífù, zuòxìng nǚ dàizhào zuò ge méirén, nǐ zhè nīzi zuò ge cóngjià bà.” [Pinyin]

     (please add an English translation of this example)

   • 我想你們青春年少，終日陪伴著我老漢，終有個出頭日子，不如乘我尚在，撿點些妝奩，嫁個人家，一夫一妻，也免得後來忙蹙蹙，尋覓頭路。 [MSC, trad.]
     我想你们青春年少，终日陪伴著我老汉，终有个出头日子，不如乘我尚在，捡点些妆奁，嫁个人家，一夫一妻，也免得后来忙蹙蹙，寻觅头路。 [MSC, simp.]

     From: 1635, 方汝浩,　九九老人, 《東度記》, chapter 51

     Wǒ xiǎng nǐmen qīngchūnniánshào, zhōngrì péibànzhe wǒ lǎohàn, zhōng yǒu ge chūtóu rìzi, bùrú chéng wǒ shàng zài, jiǎndiǎn xiē zhuānglián, jià ge rénjiā, yīfūyīqī, yě miǎndé hòulái mángcùcù, xúnmì tóulù. [Pinyin]

     (please add an English translation of this example)

   • 蘭姐欵了在自己房裡坐下、謝了他前兒的賀禮、接着道、請姐匕𬨨來、没有别的、昨兒英姐已是𬨨了喜日、我想到底女兒家是留不住的、要替他尋箇頭路、不知可合姐匕的意兒、想把他給了你兄弟鳳官、只是配不上些 [Written Vernacular Chinese, trad.]
     兰姐款了在自己房里坐下、谢了他前儿的贺礼、接着道、请姐姐过来、没有别的、昨儿英姐已是过了喜日、我想到底女儿家是留不住的、要替他寻个头路、不知可合姐姐的意儿、想把他给了你兄弟凤官、只是配不上些 [Written Vernacular Chinese, simp.]

     From: 1804, 《婆羅岸全傳》, chapter 13, based on

     Lánjiě kuǎnle zài zìjǐ fáng li zuòxià, xièle tā qiánr de hèlǐ, jiēzhe dào, qǐng jiějie guòlái, méiyǒu biéde, zuór Yīngjiě yǐ shì guòle xǐrì, wǒ xiǎng dàodǐ nǚ'érjia shì liú bù zhù de, yào tì tā xún gè tóulù, bùzhī kě hé jiějie de yìr, xiǎng bǎ tā gěile nǐ xiōngdì Fèngguān, zhǐ shì pèi bù shàng xiē [Pinyin]

     (please add an English translation of this example)

4. (archaic) master; someone to rely on

   • 他家許多人都存住不得，各自四散去了，你何不也別了他，另尋頭路？ [Written Vernacular Chinese, trad.]
     他家许多人都存住不得，各自四散去了，你何不也别了他，另寻头路？ [Written Vernacular Chinese, simp.]

     From: Feng Menglong, Stories to Awaken the World, 1627 CE

     Tā jiā xǔduō rén dōu cún zhù bùdé, gèzì sìsàn qù le, nǐ hébù yě bié le tā, lìng xún tóulù? [Pinyin]

     (please add an English translation of this example)

   • 我好好送你出家，你却不守本分，師父不肯能容你，我們也不能顧你一世，你自去尋頭路罷！ [Written Vernacular Chinese, trad.]
     我好好送你出家，你却不守本分，师父不肯能容你，我们也不能顾你一世，你自去寻头路罢！ [Written Vernacular Chinese, simp.]

     From: Qing dynasty, 嗤嗤道人, 《警寤鐘》, chapter 2, based on

     Wǒ hǎohǎo sòng nǐ chūjiā, nǐ què bùshǒuběnfèn, shīfu bùkěn néng róng nǐ, wǒmen yě bùnéng gù nǐ yīshì, nǐ zì qù xún tóulù bà! [Pinyin]

     (please add an English translation of this example)

   • 老師父死了，他這些徒弟們橫竪都要跟着人去，到不如早早的尋個頭路。 [MSC, trad.]
     老师父死了，他这些徒弟们横竖都要跟着人去，到不如早早的寻个头路。 [MSC, simp.]

     From: Qing dynasty, 陳少海, 《紅樓復夢》, chapter 8, 嫏嬛齋藏版

     Lǎoshīfu sǐ le, tā zhèxiē túdìmen héngshù dōu yào gēn zhe rén qù, dàobùrú zǎozǎo de xún ge tóulù. [Pinyin]

     (please add an English translation of this example)

5. (Hakka, Min Nan) work; job

• (clue):

• (way of doing something):

• (work):