Hanzi Now
CharactersIdiomsChinese NameFlashcards
Tools

Visual content

  • Chinese Text Image GeneratorCreate PNGs with pinyin, highlight character parts or remove strokes
  • Stroke Order AnimatorTurn a Chinese character or sentence into a GIF or MP4
  • Character Highlight AnimatorChoose character parts and animate their colors, together or in stroke order
  • Chinese Text Morph AnimatorTurn one Chinese character, word or phrase into another; download SVG, MP4 or WebM

Audio content

  • Chinese Text to SpeechRead Chinese aloud with karaoke highlighting

Teaching materials

  • Writing WorksheetsPrintable tracing sheets with a QR learning companion
  • Bingo CardsPicture and word Bingo for your class
  • Picture WorksheetsChinese and English fill-in vocabulary worksheets

Other

  • Pinyin GeneratorConvert Chinese text to pinyin with tone marks
  • Chinese Zodiac CalculatorFind your animal sign from your birth date and make a zodiac card.
  • Chinese Word CounterCount characters, words and sentences in Chinese text
View all tools →
蓬头历齿
蓬头历齿
蓬头历齿
蓬头历齿
蓬头历齿
蓬头历齿
蓬头历齿
蓬头历齿

蓬头历齿 — “Dishevelled hair and sparse teeth”

蓬头历齿 is a Chinese idiom (chengyu) meaning “describes an elderly person with dishevelled hair and sparse or missing teeth, indicative of an aged and unkempt appearance”. Literally, “Dishevelled hair and sparse teeth”.

Frequency

蓬头历齿 Pronunciation and Pinyin

蓬头历齿 Character Breakdown

Stroke Order
CharacterPinyinStrokesMeaning
蓬
péng15fleabane; disheveled; luxuriant
头
tóu5head
历
lì4experience, past, calendar
齿
chǐ8teeth, cogs, age, disdain

Example Sentence with 蓬头历齿

老奶奶虽然蓬头历齿,但眼神依然清澈明亮,充满了生活的智慧。
Although the old lady had dishevelled hair and sparse teeth, her eyes were still clear and bright, full of life's wisdom.

Origin and Story of 蓬头历齿

During the Eastern Han Dynasty, Emperor Guangwu Liu Xiu issued an edict, requesting Wang Ba, who had resigned from office during Wang Mang's reign, to resume his official duties. Wang Ba firmly refused.

He was good friends with Linghu Zibo, who was from the same prefecture. Linghu Zibo's son later became a Gongcao (an official title) and went to visit Wang Ba.

Wang Ba saw his own son, who, like himself, was engaged in farm work and looked dishevelled and had sparse teeth. He felt ashamed and guilty, thinking he had let his son down by not pursuing an official career.

Idioms Related to 蓬头历齿

Synonyms of 蓬头历齿

  • lǎo老tài态lóng龙zhōng钟old and infirm, doddering

More idioms starting with 蓬

  • péng蓬tóu头lì厉chǐ齿disheveled hair and decayed teeth
  • péng蓬tóu头gòu垢miàn面disheveled hair and dirty face
  • péng蓬tóu头sàn散fà发with dishevelled hair
  • péng蓬tóu头chì赤jiǎo脚disheveled hair and bare feet
  • péng蓬tóu头xiǎn跣zú足disheveled hair and bare feet
  • péng蓬wū屋shēng生huī辉Humble home shines with honor
  • péng蓬hù户chái柴mén门humble dwelling
  • péng蓬hù户sāng桑shū枢humble dwelling
  • péng蓬hù户wèng瓮yǒu牖a humble dwelling
  • péng蓬yǒu牖máo茅chuán椽a humble dwelling
  • péng蓬shēng生má麻zhōng中Good environment fosters upright character
  • péng蓬shēng生má麻zhōng中,,bù不fú扶ér而zhí直Good environment fosters upright growth

Recommended tools

Stroke Order Animator

Turn a Chinese character or sentence into a GIF or MP4

Open the tool →

Writing Worksheets

Printable tracing sheets with a QR learning companion

Open the tool →

Chinese Text Image Generator

Create PNGs with pinyin, highlight character parts or remove strokes

Open the tool →

Character Highlight Animator

Choose character parts and animate their colors, together or in stroke order

Open the tool →

Questions about 蓬头历齿

What does 蓬头历齿 mean?

蓬头历齿 (péng tóu lì chǐ) is a Chinese idiom (chengyu) meaning “describes an elderly person with dishevelled hair and sparse or missing teeth, indicative of an aged and unkempt appearance”.

How do you pronounce 蓬头历齿?

蓬头历齿 is pronounced péng tóu lì chǐ in Mandarin Chinese.

What does 蓬头历齿 literally mean?

Literally, 蓬头历齿 means “Dishevelled hair and sparse teeth”. It is used to mean “describes an elderly person with dishevelled hair and sparse or missing teeth, indicative of an aged and unkempt appearance”.

Where does 蓬头历齿 come from?

蓬头历齿 comes from a classical Chinese story dating back to ancient China. The full story is on this page.

What is the Chinese definition of 蓬头历齿?

头发蓬乱,牙齿稀疏。形容人衰老的容貌。

Hanzi Now

Explore the charm of Chinese language

Explore

  • Characters
  • Idioms
  • Chinese Names
  • Flashcards

Tools

  • Chinese Text Image Generator
  • Stroke Order Animator
  • Character Highlight Animator
  • Bingo Cards
  • Picture Worksheets
  • All Tools

More

  • Blog
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Service
© 2026 Hanzi NowContact Us