过头 guòtóu to overdo it
to overdo it; to overstep the limit; excessively; above one's head; overhead
How to remember 过头: 过 to cross + 头 head = to overdo it.
Characters
How it is used
- To overdo it / go past the proper limit - 这话说得有点过头 (zhè huà shuō de yǒudiǎn guòtóu) that's putting it a bit too strongly.
- Often after a verb as a complement: 玩过头了 played too hard; 睡过头 overslept.
- Colloquial; marks going excessively beyond a reasonable point. Similar spirit to 过分 (guòfèn, excessive) but 过头 is more casual and result-focused.
Example sentences
- 我睡过头了。 Wǒ shuì guòtóu le.I overslept.
- 我们睡过头了。 Wǒmen shuì guòtóu le.We overslept.
- 睡过头不是迟到的理由。 Shuì guòtóu búshì chídào de lǐyóu.Over-sleeping is no excuse for being late.