Usage note
低头表示把头向下，也可表示认错或看下面。
dī tóu biǎo shì bǎ tóu xiàng xià， yě kě biǎo shì rèn cuò huò kàn xià miàn。
低头 means to lower the head, or to look down / admit fault.
Context note
低头常用于动作、情绪和姿态。
dī tóu cháng yòng yú dòng zuò 、 qíng xù hé zī tài。
It is often used with actions, emotions, and posture.
5 examples
他低头看书。
tā dī tóu kàn shū。
He lowered his head to read.
请低头。
qǐng dī tóu。
Please lower your head.
她低头走路。
tā dī tóu zǒu lù。
She walks with her head down.
他低头道歉。
tā dī tóu dào qiàn。
He lowered his head to apologize.
孩子低头想了想。
hái zi dī tóu xiǎng le xiǎng。
The child lowered his head and thought.
5 mini stories
上台前，他有点紧张，低头整理衣服。
shàng tái qián， tā yǒu diǎn jǐn zhāng， dī tóu zhěng lǐ yī fu。
Before going on stage, he was a little nervous and lowered his head to straighten his clothes.
她低头捡起了铅笔。
tā dī tóu jiǎn qǐ le qiān bǐ。
She lowered her head and picked up the pencil.
老师看见他低头不说话。
lǎo shī kàn jiàn tā dī tóu bù shuō huà。
The teacher saw him with his head down and not speaking.
下雨时，大家都低头快走。
xià yǔ shí， dà jiā dōu dī tóu kuài zǒu。
When it rains, everyone lowers their heads and walks quickly.
他低头认错，大家都原谅了他。
tā dī tóu rèn cuò， dà jiā dōu yuán liàng le tā。
He lowered his head and admitted his mistake, and everyone forgave him.
Mini dialogue
找东西
A
你在找什么？为什么低头看地上？
Nǐ zài zhǎo shénme? Wèishéme dī tóu kàn dìshàng?
What are you looking for? Why are you lowering your head to look at the ground?
B
我的橡皮掉了，我低头找一找。
Wǒ de xiàngpí diào le, wǒ dī tóu zhǎo yī zhǎo.
My eraser dropped, I'm lowering my head to look for it.
害羞
A
他为什么低头不说话？
Tā wèishéme dī tóu bù shuōhuà?
Why is he lowering his head and not talking?
B
他有点害羞，所以低头了。
Tā yǒudiǎn hàixiū, suǒyǐ dī tóu le.
He is a bit shy, so he lowered his head.
Related words and contrasts
opposite
抬头
tái tóu
to raise one's head
低头 means to lower your head, 抬头 means to lift your head up.