首

shǒu

䒑 + 自

HSK 2.0Level 5

HSK 3.0Level 4

Definitions

shǒu (noun) head; first

shǒu (adjective) chief; principal

shǒu (classifier) classifier for songs, poems

Etymology

Pictograph of a head (hair above a face with an eye).

About

首 is a pictograph depicting a head, whether human or animal, with hair above and a face containing an eye below. Its primary meaning "head" naturally extended to abstract senses like leader, chief, or first in sequence. The character also commonly serves as a measure word for songs and poems, a usage derived from the idea of a heading or starting point.

Etymology Hide

Oracle etymology image

Oracle (~1250-1000 BC)

Oracle etymology image

Oracle (~1250-1000 BC)

Oracle etymology image

Oracle (~1250-1000 BC)

Oracle etymology image

Oracle (~1250-1000 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Early Western Zhou (~1000 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Mid Western Zhou (~900 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Mid Western Zhou (~900 BC)

Seal etymology image

Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)

Seal etymology image

Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)

Seal etymology image

Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)

Seal etymology image

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Seal etymology image

Seal Qin dynasty (221-206 BC)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Qin dynasty (221-206 BC)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

北京是中国的首都。

Běijīng shì Zhōngguó de shǒudū.

Beijing is the capital of China.

首先你要认真学习。

Shǒuxiān nǐ yào rènzhēn xuéxí.

First, you need to study seriously.

这是我首次来北京。

Zhè shì wǒ shǒucì lái Běijīng.

This is my first time coming to Beijing.

这是他的首部小说。

Zhè shì tā de shǒubù xiǎoshuō.

This is his first novel.

单词的首字母要大写。

Dāncí de shǒuzìmǔ yào dàxiě.

The first letter of a word should be capitalized.

英国的首相访问了法国。

Yīngguó de shǒuxiàng fǎngwèn le Fǎguó.

The British prime minister visited France.

这部剧的首演非常成功。

Zhè bù jù de shǒuyǎn fēicháng chénggōng.

The premiere of this play was very successful.

买房的首付需要很多钱。

Mǎi fáng de shǒufù xūyào hěnduō qián.

The down payment for buying a house requires a lot of money.

Related Characters

Composed characters:

Component: 䒑

Component: 自

Example Words