tóutiáo: 头条 - Headline, Lead Story, Top News

• Keywords: tóutiáo, 头条, Chinese headline, Chinese news, top story in Chinese, what does toutiao mean, Jinri Toutiao, 头条 news app, 上头条, shàng tóutiáo, making headlines in Chinese.
• Summary: Discover the meaning of 头条 (tóutiáo), the Chinese word for a news “headline” or “lead story.” This entry explores its literal meaning (“head-article”), its traditional use in newspapers, and its modern significance as the name of the massively popular news app 今日头条 (Jīnrì Tóutiáo). Learn how to use phrases like 上头条 (shàng tóutiáo) to say “make the headlines” and understand how this single word opens a window into modern Chinese media consumption and digital culture.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): tóutiáo
• Part of Speech: Noun
• HSK Level: HSK 5
• Concise Definition: The main headline or the lead story of a news publication, website, or app.
• In a Nutshell: 头条 (tóutiáo) literally translates to “head article.” Think of it as the most important, attention-grabbing news story of the day—the one that gets the biggest font on the front page or sits at the very top of your news feed. While it traditionally referred to newspaper headlines, its meaning is now dominated by the digital world, especially the famous news app “今日头条” (Today's Headlines).

• 头 (tóu): This character means “head,” “top,” or “first.” It's one of the most fundamental characters, often depicted as a simple representation of a person's head. In 头条, it signifies “first” or “most important.”
• 条 (tiáo): This character means “strip,” “item,” or “article.” It's also a common measure word for long, thin objects (like a rope or a river) and abstract things like news items, rules, or messages.
• Together, 头条 (tóutiáo) logically combines these to mean the “head item” or “top article”—the lead story.

头条 (tóutiáo) provides a fascinating look into the evolution of media in China. Traditionally, it was the editor's choice for the front-page story, reflecting a top-down information structure. Today, its meaning is inextricably linked to 今日头条 (Jīnrì Tóutiáo), a news aggregator app from ByteDance (the parent company of TikTok/Douyin). This is where the cultural comparison becomes interesting. While Western culture has “trending topics” on Twitter or “top stories” on Google News, these exist within a more fragmented media ecosystem. In China, 今日头条 is a colossal, centralized platform that uses powerful AI to create a highly personalized and often addictive news feed for hundreds of millions of users. Therefore, when modern Chinese people talk about 头条, they are often referring to what the algorithm has deemed most important *for them* or for the public, as dictated by this single, hugely influential app. This reflects a cultural shift from human-edited headlines to algorithm-driven news consumption, a phenomenon happening globally but particularly concentrated in the Chinese tech landscape. The act of “making the headlines” (上头条 - shàng tóutiáo) is a major goal for celebrities, companies, and public figures, signifying massive public attention.

The use of 头条 falls into three main categories:

This refers to the main headline of any news source, digital or print. It's the most neutral and literal meaning.

• Connotation: Neutral
• Formality: Formal to Neutral

In casual conversation, 头条 is often used as a shorthand for the app itself. The verb 刷 (shuā), meaning “to scroll” or “to browse,” is frequently paired with it.

• Usage: “我在刷头条” (Wǒ zài shuā tóutiáo) - “I'm scrolling through Toutiao.”
• Connotation: Neutral, everyday activity
• Formality: Informal

This is a set phrase meaning “to make the headlines” or “to become the top news story.” It's used for people, events, or scandals that capture the public's imagination.

• Usage: “那个明星又上头条了。” (Nàge míngxīng yòu shàng tóutiáo le.) - “That celebrity made the headlines again.”
• Connotation: Can be positive, negative, or neutral depending on *why* they made the headlines.
• Formality: Informal to Neutral

• Example 1:
  • 今天的报纸头条是关于经济的新闻。
  • Pinyin: Jīntiān de bàozhǐ tóutiáo shì guānyú jīngjì de xīnwén.
  • English: Today's newspaper headline is about the economy.
  • Analysis: This is the most traditional and literal use of the word, referring to a physical newspaper's lead story.
• Example 2:
  • 那个丑闻很快就成了全国的头条新闻。
  • Pinyin: Nàge chǒuwén hěn kuài jiù chéngle quánguó de tóutiáo xīnwén.
  • English: That scandal quickly became the nation's top story.
  • Analysis: Here, 头条 is used to mean the most talked-about news story across all media.
• Example 3:
  • 这个电影明星为了上头条，什么都愿意做。
  • Pinyin: Zhège diànyǐng míngxīng wèile shàng tóutiáo, shénme dōu yuànyì zuò.
  • English: This movie star is willing to do anything to make the headlines.
  • Analysis: This demonstrates the common set phrase 上头条 (shàng tóutiáo), meaning “to get on the headline,” often with a slightly negative or cynical connotation about seeking fame.
• Example 4:
  • 你看头条了吗？据说要降温了。
  • Pinyin: Nǐ kàn tóutiáo le ma? Jùshuō yào jiàngwēn le.
  • English: Have you checked Toutiao? They say the temperature is going to drop.
  • Analysis: In this casual context, 头条 almost certainly refers to the “Jinri Toutiao” app, not news headlines in general.
• Example 5:
  • 我每天早上都习惯刷一会儿头条。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ měitiān zǎoshang dōu xíguàn shuā yīhuì'r tóutiáo.
  • English: Every morning, I have a habit of scrolling through Toutiao for a bit.
  • Analysis: This highlights the common modern usage with the verb 刷 (shuā), meaning to scroll on a phone. It refers to the app.
• Example 6:
  • 这次成功发射火箭的消息登上了世界各大媒体的头条。
  • Pinyin: Zhè cì chénggōng fāshè huǒjiàn de xiāoxī dēng shàngle shìjiè gè dà méitǐ de tóutiáo.
  • English: The news of this successful rocket launch made the headlines of major media outlets worldwide.
  • Analysis: A more formal example showing how 头条 is used in the context of international news. 登上 (dēng shàng) is a more formal synonym for 上 (shàng).
• Example 7:
  • 他的新发明绝对是明天的头条。
  • Pinyin: Tā de xīn fāmíng juéduì shì míngtiān de tóutiáo.
  • English: His new invention is definitely going to be tomorrow's headline.
  • Analysis: A simple, predictive sentence showing confidence that something is newsworthy enough to be the lead story.
• Example 8:
  • 别担心，这点小事上不了头条。
  • Pinyin: Bié dānxīn, zhè diǎn xiǎoshì shàng bu liǎo tóutiáo.
  • English: Don't worry, this small matter won't make the headlines.
  • Analysis: This uses the negative potential form 上不了 (shàng bu liǎo), meaning “cannot make/get on,” to reassure someone that an issue is not big enough to attract major attention.
• Example 9:
  • 头条的推荐算法非常厉害，总能猜到我喜欢看什么。
  • Pinyin: Tóutiáo de tuījiàn suànfǎ fēicháng lìhài, zǒng néng cāi dào wǒ xǐhuān kàn shénme.
  • English: Toutiao's recommendation algorithm is incredible; it can always guess what I like to watch.
  • Analysis: This sentence explicitly discusses the technology behind the app, which is a common topic of conversation in China.
• Example 10:
  • 这件事成了社交媒体的头条，但传统媒体还没报道。
  • Pinyin: Zhè jiàn shì chéngle shèjiāo méitǐ de tóutiáo, dàn chuántǒng méitǐ hái méi bàodào.
  • English: This issue became the top story on social media, but the traditional media hasn't reported on it yet.
  • Analysis: This sentence distinguishes between different types of media, showing how 头条 can be used specifically for one platform (in this case, social media).

• “头条” (tóutiáo) vs. “标题” (biāotí): This is the most common point of confusion for learners.
  • 头条 (tóutiáo): The single main headline or lead story. There is only one 头条 per publication per day/edition.
  • 标题 (biāotí): The title or headline of any article, video, or post. A newspaper has one 头条 but dozens of 标题.
  • Incorrect Usage: ~~这篇报道的头条很有趣。~~ (This report's headline is interesting.)
  • Correct Usage: 这篇报道的标题很有趣。(The title of this report is interesting.)
  • Correct Usage: 今天报纸的头条是关于那篇报道的。(Today's newspaper headline is about that report.)
• General Headline vs. The App: Be aware of context. When someone asks “你看头条了吗？” (Nǐ kàn tóutiáo le ma?), they are almost always talking about the app. If you want to ask about the headlines in general, it's clearer to specify: “你看今天的新闻头条了吗？” (Nǐ kàn jīntiān de xīnwén tóutiáo le ma?).

• 今日头条 (Jīnrì Tóutiáo) - The full name of the famous news aggregator app that has shaped the modern meaning of 头条.
• 上头条 (shàng tóutiáo) - A verb phrase meaning “to make the headlines,” essential for understanding the term's practical use.
• 新闻 (xīnwén) - The general word for “news.” 头条 is the most important piece of 新闻.
• 标题 (biāotí) - “Title” or “headline.” A synonym in some contexts, but more general. 头条 is the most important 标题.
• 热搜 (rèsōu) - “Hot search,” referring to trending topics on platforms like Weibo. This is the social media equivalent of a 头条.
• 刷 (shuā) - “To scroll, to browse (on a device).” Commonly paired with 头条 as in 刷头条.
• 媒体 (méitǐ) - “Media.” The industry that produces 头条.
• 热门 (rèmén) - “Popular,” “hot.” A hot topic can become a 头条.