JLPT N3 · 9 strokes
Kanji 首: "neck, counter for songs and poems"
The kanji 首 means "neck, counter for songs and poems". It is written with 9 strokes and belongs to JLPT level N3, read シュ in on'yomi and くび in kun'yomi.
Stroke order
Strokes are written in the order of the numbers. The order is not decorative: it is what gives the character its balance, and it is also how handwriting search works in Japanese dictionaries.
Readings
On'yomi (Sino-Japanese reading)
シュ
Kun'yomi (native Japanese reading)
くび
In a kun'yomi reading, the dot separates the kanji from its okurigana: かた.る is read かたる and written 語る. A hyphen marks a bound position, like -び in 日.
At a glance
| Meaning | neck, counter for songs and poems |
|---|---|
| Strokes | 9 |
| JLPT level | N3 |
| Taught in Japan | grade 2 |
| Frequency rank | 98 of 2,501 |
Common words with 首
The most frequent words using this kanji, most common first, with furigana readings. Click one to open it in the reader.
- 首neck · head
- 首を振るsecouer la tête, faire non de la tête
- 手首wrist
- 首を横に振るsecouer la tête (en signe de refus), dire non de la tête
- 首筋nuque, arrière du cou
- 首都(national) capital (city); metropolis
- 足首ankle
- 首をかしげるto incline one's head to the side (in doubt); to tilt one's head to the side (in confusion); to be puzzled
- 乳首nipple; teat
- 小首を傾げるto look slightly doubtful; to look puzzled; to bend one's head slightly to one side
- 首輪(animal) collar · necklace; choker
- 首をひねるto cock one's head in puzzlement; to tilt one's head in contemplation; to wrack one's brain; to think hard
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