首
HSK 4 (exam 2025)HSK 4 (2021)Old HSK 5
首 (shǒu) · measure word for songs and poems
首 (shǒu) means “measure word for songs and poems”. It is made of 丷 + 自 and has 9 strokes, and is an HSK 4 word in the current exam syllabus (2025).
Break 首 into its parts
What 首 is made of
- 丷 ha — kwukyel
- 丶 — dot
- 自 zì — self
- 目 mù — eye
- 口 kǒu — mouth
- 二 — two strokes
- 目 mù — eye
Origin hint: A deer's head 自 adorned with antlers 丷 (from the Make Me a Hanzi dataset; treat as a memory aid where history is uncertain)
首 stroke order
Example sentences
这是他首次来中国。Zhè shì tā shǒucì lái Zhōngguó.This is his first time coming to China.
这首歌很好听。Zhè shǒu gē hěn hǎotīng.This song sounds great.
Words with 首
- 首都shǒudūcapital (city)
- 首先shǒuxiānfirst
- 首饰shǒushìjewellery
- 首要shǒuyàomost important
- 元首yuánshǒuhead of state
Also built with 丷
- 产chǎnto give birth
- 兑duìcash
- 关guānto close
- 兼jiānboth
- 半bànhalf
- 单dānlist
- 夹jiāto support
- 平píngflat
- 并bìngand
- 弟dìyoung brother
- 总zǒngalways
- 曾céngonce
Quick facts
| Pinyin | shǒu |
|---|---|
| Meaning | measure word for songs and poems; first |
| Strokes | 9 |
| Radical | 首 (head, #185) |
| Pattern | Top–bottom |
| HSK | HSK 4 (exam 2025) · HSK 4 (2021) · Old HSK 5 |
Questions about 首
What does 首 mean?
首 (shǒu) means “measure word for songs and poems; first”.
How many strokes does 首 have?
首 has 9 strokes.
What is the radical of 首?
The radical of 首 is 首 (shǒu, “head”), Kangxi radical number 185.
What parts make up 首?
首 is made of 丷 (kwukyel) and 自 (self).
Which HSK level is 首?
首 is in HSK 4 (exam 2025) and HSK 4 (2021) and Old HSK 5.
Learn 首 with its group
It is part of HSK 4 (2021) · Group 60: a short group with quick checks and spaced repeats.