首

首	Meanings: neck, head On Readings: シュ shu Kun Readings: くび kubi Most Used Pronunciation: kubi JLPT Level: 3 (see all JLPT 3 kanji) Grade: 2 Kanji Part: 首 Stroke Number: 9

Level 3 Completion 263 / 284

Common jukugo
足首 - あし　くび ashi kubi - ankle
自首 - じ　しゅ ji shu - surrender, give oneself up
首肯 - しゅ　こう shu kou - assent, consent

Useful Examples
Japanese: トムは首になった。
Romaji: tomu wa kubi ni natta.
English: Tom lost his job.

Japanese: おどおどして首をたれた。
Romaji: odoodo shite kubi o tareta.
English: He hung his head sheepishly.

Japanese: ベルギーの首都を知っていますか。
Romaji: berugi- no shuto o shitte imasu ka.
English: Do you know the capital of Belgium?

Japanese: その会議は森首相が司会をした。
Romaji: sono kaigi wa mori shushou ga shikai o shita.
English: The conference was presided over by Mr Mori.

Japanese: 反逆者達は首都を制圧した。
Romaji: hangyakushatachi wa shuto o seiatsu shita.
English: The rebels took control of the capital.

Japanese: 現在の首相はその式に出席してはいなかった。
Romaji: genzai no shushou wa sono shiki ni shusseki shite hainakatta.
English: The present Prime minister was not present at the ceremony.

Look alike kanji

Notes/Mnemonic
This kanji has a very thin neck

Many example sentences are from the Tanaka Corpus as modified for use with WWWJDIC.