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首
首
9 strokes
Frequency: 98
JLPT N3
Grade 2

Meanings

neck
counter for songs and poems

Readings

On — Chinese-derived reading, usually for compounds
シュ
Kun — Native Japanese reading, usually for standalone words
くび
Nanori — Specialized readings used in names
おびと
こべ
す

Common Words

首
かしら
Noun
Freq #558
1

head (of a doll)

首
くび
クビ
頸
頚
馘
Noun
Freq #673
1

首／頸／頚 only

neck

Examples
その首と頭部はとてもやわらかかった。
Its neck and head were very soft.
2

首／頸／頚 only

head

Examples
鳥は首をひょいと水に浸した。
The bird dipped its head into the water.
3

Word usually written using kana alone

dismissal (from a job); firing; sacking

Examples
あなたの首は風前のともし火だ。
Your job hangs by a thread.
頷く
うなずく
うなづく
肯く
《 首肯く 》
《 点頭く 》
Godan verb
Intransitive
Freq #3010
1

to nod; to bow one's head in assent; to agree

Examples
私は同意したということをうなずいて知らせた。
I nodded to show that I agreed.
首を振る
くびをふる
Expression
Godan verb
Freq #3103
1

to shake one's head

Examples
彼は「いやだ」といいたげに首を振った。
He shook his head as if to say No.
首をかしげる
首を傾げる
くびをかしげる
Expression
Ichidan verb
Freq #3126
1

to incline one's head to the side (in doubt); to tilt one's head to the side (in confusion); to be puzzled

手首
てくび
手頸
Noun
Freq #3418
1

wrist

Examples
転んで手首を痛めました。
I fell down and hurt my wrist.
首を横に振る
くびをよこにふる
Expression
Godan verb
Freq #3580
1

to shake one's head (in disagreement); to disagree; to refuse; to say no; to turn down (a request)

Examples
何らかの理由で彼女は首を横に振った。
For some reason or another she shook her head.
首筋
首すじ
くびすじ
頸筋
頚筋
Noun
Freq #3943
1

nape of the neck; back of the neck; scruff of the neck

Examples
彼の首筋を血がすっと伝った。
A trickle of blood ran down his neck.
首都
しゅと
Noun
Freq #6805
1

capital (city); metropolis

Examples
東京は日本の首都です。
Tokyo is the capital of Japan.
足首
あしくび
足頸
Noun
Freq #7057
1

ankle

Examples
滑って足首を捻挫した。
I slipped and twisted my ankle.
Search for more words containing 首

Memory Mnemonics

Keywords

The core concepts or meanings associated with this specific kanji.

neck

Constituents

The visual building blocks used to craft this character's story.

丶 drop
丷 horns
一 ceiling
一 one
目 eye
自 nose

Mnemonic Stories

To support heavy horns upon oneself, you have to have a strong neck! Imagine yourself as a bull creature and the strain that places on your neck.

The bull lowered its horns and snorted one time through its nose, giving you a clear view of its neck before it started to charge.

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