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首

Neck
Stroke count: 9

Readings

On readingシュ
Kun readingくび
JLPT level: N3JōyōGrade 2Level 6

Meanings

  1. neckRtK
    彼は太い首をしている。He has a thick neck.tatoeba
  2. counter for songs and poems
  1. head
  2. dismissal (from a job)
  3. firing
  4. sacking

Synonyms

ネック

Popular Usage

首相首都首輪元首首飾り

Radicals and components

Radical首head
Components
How it's built
首
  • →
    • →

Mnemonic (RtK)

ⓘ

horns · nose (鼻) · one (一) · ceiling (冖) · drop (丶) · eye (目)

From "Remembering the Kanji" by James Heisig · Frame 74

Compound words

首相しゅしょう
prime minister; chancellor (Germany, Austria, etc.); premier
首都しゅと
capital (city); metropolis
元首げんしゅ
sovereign; ruler; head of state
首飾りくびかざり
necklace; choker
一首いっしゅ
one tanka; one poem
機首きしゅ
nose (of plane)
自首じしゅ
surrender (to the authorities); giving oneself up; turning oneself in
手首てくび
wrist
首長しゅちょう
head (of organization, organisation); chief; sheikh; emir
首脳しゅのう
head; leader; top; important part
首班しゅはん
head; leader; prime minister
首尾しゅび
beginning and end; from beginning to end; result; outcome; course of events
首謀しゅぼう
plotting; planning (crime, intrigue); ringleader; mastermind; leader (of a plot)
足首あしくび
ankle
党首とうしゅ
party leader
部首ぶしゅ
radical (of a kanji character)
乳首ちくび
nipple; teat
首位しゅい
first place; head position; leading position
首領しゅりょう
head; chief; boss; leader
絞首刑こうしゅけい
death by hanging; execution by hanging
首都圏しゅとけん
Greater Tokyo Metropolitan area; metropolitan area (of a capital)
縛り首しばりくび
(death by) hanging
首脳部しゅのうぶ
executives; top management; governing body
鎌首かまくび
sickle-shaped neck (e.g. snake, praying mantis)

On Reading Examples

先進７カ国の首脳は２０００年、沖縄に集まる。しゅのう
The leaders of seven industrial democracies will meet in Okinawa in 2000.tatoeba
首脳たちは経済成長に障害となるものを排除しようとしています。しゅのう
Leaders are trying to do away with impediments to economic growth.tatoeba
与党の首脳たちは政治改革法案で知恵をしぼっています。しゅのう
Party leaders are hammering out a proposal for political reform.tatoeba

Kun Reading Examples

彼は怒って首を左右に振った。くび
He gave an angry shake of his head.tatoeba
彼は首を前後に振りました。くび
He shook his head back and forth.tatoeba
彼は首を上下に振った。くび
He shook his head up and down.tatoeba

Additional Examples

彼は悲嘆にくれて、首吊り自殺をした。
He was heartbroken and hanged himself.tatoeba
彼は盗みのために首になった。
He was fired for stealing.tatoeba
彼は怒って首を左右に振った。
He gave an angry shake of his head.tatoeba
彼は転んで足首を捻挫した。
He fell, twisting his ankle.tatoeba
首相官邸の仮装舞踏会
Masquerades in the Prime Minister's Official Residencewiki
子孫に安倍晋三元首相がいる。
The former prime minister Shinzo ABE is his descendant.wiki
→日本の首都参照
Please refer to The Capital of Japan.wiki
現在でいう首都圏と同義である。
Kinai possessed the same meaning as the national capital region at the present time.wiki
ヒスイの勾玉、ガラス製の管玉、小玉などの首飾り
Necklaces made of Hisui (jade) Magadama (comma-shaped beads), glass cylindrical beads, small beads and so onwiki
丸く膨らんだ一端に穴をあけて紐を通し、首飾りとした。
A hole is opened on the rounder end, and a string is passed through the jewel, which is then worn as a necklace.wiki

Stroke Order

9 strokes

Neck, head. 自 (face) with hair on top — the whole head, on its neck.

Practice Writing

Practice Writing 首

Draw with a guide, then from memory — checked at every step