元首
Old HSK 6
元首 (yuánshǒu) · head of state
元首 (yuánshǒu) means “head of state”. It is written with 2 characters: 元 (yuan) + 首 (measure word for songs and poems). It is an old HSK 6 word (HSK 2.0).
How 元首 is built
The characters
元 yuán · yuan
What 元 is made of
- 二 — two strokes
- 一 — horizontal stroke
- 一 — horizontal stroke
- 儿ér — child
- 丿 — falling stroke
- 乚 — hook stroke
Origin hint: A man 儿 with two lines emphasizing their head 二 (from the Make Me a Hanzi dataset; treat as a memory aid where history is uncertain)
首 shǒu · measure word for songs and poems
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)
Example sentences
两国元首举行了会谈。Liǎng guó yuánshǒu jǔxíng le huìtán.The two heads of state held talks.
新闻报道了元首访问的消息。Xīnwén bàodào le yuánshǒu fǎngwèn de xiāoxi.The news reported the head of state's visit.
Questions about 元首
What does 元首 mean?
元首 (yuánshǒu) means “head of state”.
How do you pronounce 元首?
元首 is pronounced yuánshǒu.
Which HSK level is 元首?
元首 is in Old HSK 6.
Related words
- 单元dānyuánunit (of a textbook)
- 美元měiyuánUS dollar
- 公元gōngyuánAD
- 元旦YuándànNew Year's Day (January 1st)
- 多元化duōyuánhuàdiverse
- 元素yuánsùelement
- 元宵节YuánxiāojiéLantern Festival
- 元yuányuan
- 首都shǒudūcapital (city)
- 首先shǒuxiānfirst
Learn 元首 with its group
It is part of Old HSK 6 · Group 222: a short group with quick checks and spaced repeats.