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首

首 — neck, counter for songs and poems

Learn the correct stroke order for 首 (neck), a 9-stroke kanji.

JLPT N3Grade 29 strokes

Stroke Order

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Stroke 0 / 9
On'yomi (音読み)シュshu
Kun'yomi (訓読み)くびkubi
Strokes9
Radical首
Frequency#98
Meaningsneck, counter for songs and poems

Step-by-Step Diagram

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Try Writing It

Practice writing each stroke in the correct order and direction. Start from the green dot.

Draw stroke 1 of 9 — start from the green dot

Common Words

一首いっしゅone tanka; one poemnoun
機首きしゅnose (of plane)noun
元首げんしゅsovereign; ruler; head of statenoun
自首じしゅsurrender (to the authorities); giving oneself up; turning oneself innoun
手首てくびwristnoun
首相しゅしょうprime minister; chancellor (Germany, Austria, etc.); premiernoun

Usage & Examples

Usage Notes

The kanji 首 (neck) is taught in grade 2 of Japanese elementary school and appears at JLPT N3 level. It has 9 strokes with radical 首.

In newspaper frequency rankings, 首 is #98, making it one of the most commonly used kanji.

Example Words in Context

一首いっしゅ — one tanka; one poem
機首きしゅ — nose (of plane)
元首げんしゅ — sovereign; ruler; head of state

Practice Sheet

Trace then write on your own. Print this row as a PDF practice sheet.

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Frequently Asked Questions

How many strokes does 首 have?

The kanji 首 (neck) has 9 strokes. Watch the animation above to see the correct order.

What is the correct stroke order for 首?

首 follows the standard Japanese stroke order as taught in schools. Use the step-by-step diagram or the "Try Writing" tool above to practice each stroke in sequence.

What does 首 mean?

首 means: neck, counter for songs and poems. On'yomi readings: シュ. Kun'yomi readings: くび.

What JLPT level is 首?

首 is a JLPT N3 kanji. This is an intermediate kanji.