Details
Description
Neck - head and neck drawn together. The most important part, hence chief, first and prime minister.
Stroke Order
Cultural Context
Etymology
Pictograph depicting a neck/head.
Symbolism
Neck, first place, prime minister. Represents most important part.
Component Breakdown
䒑 + 自
Words & Expressions
Words written with 首
Four-Character Compounds
思案投首
しあんなげくび
being at one's wit's end; being (quite) at a loss (what to do)
首尾一貫
しゅびいっかん
consistent; unchanging from beginning to end
閉口頓首
へいこうとんしゅ
being at a complete loss as to what to do; being at one's wit's end; being at a loss for an answer
鳩首協議
きゅうしゅきょうぎ
put heads together and confer; convene and discuss; go into a huddle (over)
鳩首凝議
きゅうしゅぎょうぎ
put heads together and confer; convene and discuss; go into a huddle (over)
鳩首謀議
きゅうしゅぼうぎ
go into a huddle (over); hold a secret conference (about); put heads together and conspire
首鼠両端
しゅそりょうたん
being unable to make up one's mind; sitting on the fence
首尾貫徹
しゅびかんてつ
(logical) consistency; coherence; unchanging from beginning to end
頓首再拝
とんしゅさいはい
respectfully yours
Proverbs & Idioms
首を長くして待つ
くびをながくしてまつ
Waiting with a long neck
Eagerly waiting for something
Other kanji with the same meaning
Frequently Asked Questions
What does 首 mean in Japanese?
首 means neck, counter for songs and poems. Neck - head and neck drawn together. The most important part, hence chief, first and prime minister.
How do you read 首?
On'yomi: シュ (SHU). Kun'yomi: くび (kubi).
How many strokes does 首 have?
首 has 9 strokes. Its radical is 首 (head).
Is 首 a good kanji for a tattoo?
首 is one of the kanji most often chosen for tattoos. It means neck, counter for songs and poems. Read the full meaning and cultural background on this page first — some popular choices are deliberately dark.
Explore by meaning:neck