Hanzi Now
CharactersIdiomsChinese NameFlashcards
Tools

Visual content

  • Chinese Text Image GeneratorCreate PNGs with pinyin, highlight character parts or remove strokes
  • Stroke Order AnimatorTurn a Chinese character or sentence into a GIF or MP4
  • Character Highlight AnimatorChoose character parts and animate their colors, together or in stroke order
  • Chinese Text Morph AnimatorTurn one Chinese character, word or phrase into another; download SVG, MP4 or WebM

Audio content

  • Chinese Text to SpeechRead Chinese aloud with karaoke highlighting

Teaching materials

  • Writing WorksheetsPrintable tracing sheets with a QR learning companion
  • Bingo CardsPicture and word Bingo for your class
  • Picture WorksheetsChinese and English fill-in vocabulary worksheets

Other

  • Pinyin GeneratorConvert Chinese text to pinyin with tone marks
  • Chinese Zodiac CalculatorFind your animal sign from your birth date and make a zodiac card.
  • Chinese Word CounterCount characters, words and sentences in Chinese text
View all tools →
首 Chinese character image - Hanzi Now
首 Chinese character image - Hanzi Now
首 Chinese character image - Hanzi Now
首 Chinese character image - Hanzi Now
首 Chinese character image - Hanzi Now
首 Chinese character image - Hanzi Now
首 Chinese character image - Hanzi Now
首 Chinese character image - Hanzi Now
首 Chinese character image - Hanzi Now
首 Chinese character image - Hanzi Now
首 Chinese character image - Hanzi Now

首 Stroke Order — How to Write 首

Stroke Order

首 is written in 9 strokes, following the standard Chinese stroke order. Start from the radical 首, then complete the remaining strokes.

Stroke order matters in Chinese: it keeps the character balanced, and it is how dictionaries and handwriting input methods expect a character to be written.

首 Radical and Character Components

Components:丷自

首 is an ideographic compound. A deer's head 自 adorned with antlers 丷.

Radical: 首 + 0 more strokes

首 Pronunciation and Pinyin

  • shǒu

Meanings of 首 in Chinese

1

shǒu首

Head, top part, or the main part; to nod in agreement (as in 首肯).
他对这个计划表示首肯
He expressed his agreement with this plan.
leader, head, or chief of a group or organization
项目组的首脑们正在制定新的策略。
The project team leaders are currently formulating new strategies.
First, highest; referring to a capital city or provincial capital.
这座城市是该省的首府。
This city is the capital of the province.
First, earliest, or primary, often referring to the beginning of an event, an original creation, or a premiere occurrence.
这是我首次尝试制作这款蛋糕。
This is my first time attempting to make this type of cake.
to confess one's crime; to report (someone) to the authorities.
警方呼吁嫌疑人尽快自首。
The police urged the suspect to surrender as soon as possible.
A measure word for poems and songs.
她唱了一首动听的歌。
She sang a beautiful song.

Common Words and Phrases with 首

1
shǒu首chàng倡
To be the first to initiate, propose, or advocate something.
这位科学家首倡了利用太阳能为城市供电的理念
This scientist first advocated the concept of using solar energy to power cities.
2
shǒu首chē车
first bus
地铁首车通常在早上六点发车,方便早起上班的乘客。
The first subway train usually departs at 6 AM, convenient for passengers who start work early.
3
shǒu首chuàng创
To be the first to create or originate something; pioneer.
这家公司首创了一种全新的环保材料,极大地推动了行业发展
This company pioneered a brand new environmentally friendly material, greatly promoting the development of the industry.
4
shǒu首cì次
first time
她首次尝试制作手工皂,结果非常成功。
She tried making handmade soap for the first time, and it was very successful.
5
shǒu首dāng当qí其chōng冲
to be the first to bear the brunt; to be the first to be affected or suffer
每次台风来袭,沿海的村庄总是首当其冲,承受巨大的损失。
Every time a typhoon strikes, coastal villages are always the first to bear the brunt, suffering immense losses.
6
shǒu首dí敌
main enemy; archenemy
在电子游戏中,最终boss往往是玩家的首敌
In video games, the final boss is often the player's primary enemy.
7
shǒu首dū都
The capital is the city that serves as the seat of government and administrative center of a country or region.
这座城市作为行政首都,拥有众多历史悠久的建筑和文化遗产。
This city, functioning as an an administrative capital, is home to numerous historic buildings and cultural heritage sites.
8
shǒu首è恶
The principal culprit or chief criminal in a group.
犯罪集团的首恶最终被绳之以法。
The principal offender of the criminal group was finally brought to justice.
9
shǒu首fàn犯
The principal or leading offender in a criminal group; a prime criminal.
警方经过长期侦查,最终将贩毒集团的首犯抓获归案。
The police, after a long investigation, finally apprehended the principal offender of the drug trafficking group.
10
shǒu首fǔ府
Capital city, especially of an autonomous region or prefecture.
这座城市是该地区重要的交通枢纽,也是它的经济首府。
This city is an important transportation hub for the region, and also its economic capital.
11
shǒu首fù富
the richest person in a region or country
经过多年的努力和精明投资,李先生终于成为当地的首富。
After years of hard work and shrewd investments, Mr. Li finally became the wealthiest person in the area.
12
shǒu首gào告
To be the first to report someone else's criminal act or behavior.
村民张三鼓起勇气,首告了村里的盗窃案
Villager Zhang San, mustering courage, was the first to report the village's theft case.
13
shǒu首háng航
The first voyage or flight, especially of a new ship or aircraft, or on a new route.
这家航空公司将于下月开通上海至伦敦的直飞航班,其首航备受期待。
This airline will launch a direct flight from Shanghai to London next month, and its inaugural flight is highly anticipated.
14
shǒu首jí级
chopped-off head (in ancient times)
古代战场上,将军常常会命士兵将敌方主帅的首级带回,以示胜利。
On ancient battlefields, generals would often order soldiers to bring back the enemy commander's head as a sign of victory.
15
shǒu首kěn肯
to nod approval or give consent
新来的主管对我的提议表示了首肯。
The new supervisor gave his approval to my proposal.
16
shǒu首lǐng领
Leader; chief of a group.
这个探险队的首领经验丰富,带领队员们克服了重重困难。
The leader of this expedition team is very experienced and led the members to overcome many difficulties.

More words with 首

  • qí稽shǒu首Prostrate oneself, Kowtow
  • báng榜shǒu首First place; top rank.
  • bí匕shǒu首dagger
  • bù部shǒu首Radicals in Chinese characters.
  • dùn顿shǒu首kowtow, deep bow
  • fěi匪shǒu首bandit chieftain
  • hàn颔shǒu首nod
  • huò祸shǒu首chief culprit or principal criminal
  • kòu叩shǒu首Kowtow, to knock one's head
  • kuí魁shǒu首leader, chief
  • shī尸shǒu首dead body; corpse
  • shòu授shǒu首to be executed, to die
  • suì岁shǒu首New Year's Day, The beginning of the year
  • yòu右shǒu首the right side, the right-hand side
  • yuán元shǒu首head of state
  • hào皓shǒu首white hair, hoary head
  • qiáo翘shǒu首look forward eagerly, crane one's neck
  • fǔ俯shǒu首lower one's head, bow one's head
  • mán馒shǒu首steamed bun
  • qián黔shǒu首the common people; ordinary people.

Idioms with 首

  • shǒu首qū屈yī一zhǐ指to be second to none
  • shǒu首shǔ鼠liǎng两duān端hesitate between two courses of action
  • shǒu首wěi尾guàn贯tōng通consistent and coherent from beginning to end
  • shǒu首wěi尾jiā夹gōng攻attack from front and rear
  • shǒu首wěi尾shòu受dí敌attacked from both front and rear
  • shǒu首wěi尾xiāng相jiù救mutual support from beginning to end
  • shǒu首wěi尾xiāng相lián连connected end to end
  • shǒu首wěi尾xiāng相yìng应well-coordinated from beginning to end
  • shǒu首zhàn战gào告jié捷win the first battle
  • áng昂shǒu首kuò阔bù步stride forward with head high
  • áng昂shǒu首tǐng挺xiōng胸hold head high with chest out
  • áng昂shǒu首wàng望tiān天arrogant and out of touch

Recommended tools

Chinese Text Image Generator

Create PNGs with pinyin, highlight character parts or remove strokes

Open the tool →

Character Highlight Animator

Choose character parts and animate their colors, together or in stroke order

Open the tool →

Stroke Order Animator

Turn a Chinese character or sentence into a GIF or MP4

Open the tool →

Writing Worksheets

Printable tracing sheets with a QR learning companion

Open the tool →

Questions about 首

What does 首 mean in Chinese?

首 (shǒu) means “Head, top part, or the main part” in Chinese.

How do you pronounce 首?

首 is pronounced shǒu in Mandarin Chinese.

How many strokes does 首 have?

首 has 9 strokes.

How do you write 首?

首 is written in 9 strokes, starting from the radical 首. See the animated stroke order on this page.

What is the radical of 首?

The radical of 首 is 首, and 首 is an ideographic compound.

Hanzi Now

Explore the charm of Chinese language

Explore

  • Characters
  • Idioms
  • Chinese Names
  • Flashcards

Tools

  • Chinese Text Image Generator
  • Stroke Order Animator
  • Character Highlight Animator
  • Bingo Cards
  • Picture Worksheets
  • All Tools

More

  • Blog
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Service
© 2026 Hanzi NowContact Us