首 means “neck”

くび · kubi

Also: counter for songs and poems

Kun'yomi (Japanese reading)

くび

On'yomi (Chinese reading)

シュ

JLPT N4 · Taught in grade 2 · 9 strokes

The story

A head sits atop a pillar: the neck bridges mind and body, turning to face each new horizon with curiosity.

Used in 首都 (shuto, capital city) and 首相 (shushou, prime minister)

More from Body & Health

• 背 back
• 指 finger
• 骨 bone
• 血 blood
• 声 voice
• 力 strength
• 歯 tooth
• 髪 hair
• 鼻 nose
• 目 eye
• 耳 ear
• 口 mouth

Learn 首 and more kanji free on Fuji Learning · All kanji

Readings from KANJIDIC2, © EDRDG, CC BY-SA.