首 (shǒu) - Head & chief

首Tone 3

shǒu ｜ 9 strokes ｜ radical: 首

上姝

首 · shǒu

Head;

chief;

leader;

first;

beginning;

to lead;

to initiate.

Headchiefleader

Usage highlights

Head of stateCapital cityFirst placeChief executiveFirst timePoem

Synonyms

Antonyms

  • 尾— tail, end
  • 末— end, last

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • The head of state(国家元首)
  • First place in a competition(首名)
  • The capital city(首都)
  • The first chapter(首章)
  • To confess(自首)

Collocations

  • Head of state(元首)
  • Capital city(首都)
  • First place(首位)
  • Chief executive(首席)
  • First time(首次)
  • Poem(诗歌的首句)

Idioms

  • To bare one's head and bare one's feet(蓬头跣首)
  • To bend the head and acknowledge guilt(俯首认罪)
  • The head and tail are separated(首尾分离)
  • To take the lead(首当其冲)
  • From beginning to end(自始至终)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • In ancient China, the head was considered the most important part of the body, symbolizing leadership and authority.
  • The character appears in many terms related to governance and ranking, reflecting hierarchical social structures.
  • In poetry and literature, '首' often denotes the beginning or the most important part of a work.

FAQ