HSK 4 · Chinese hanzi
首 — head
- Reading
- shǒu
- Meaning
- head; chief; first; a measure word for poems or songs
- HSK level
- HSK 4
- Language
- Chinese
About this hanzi
首 is a chinese hanzi character commonly studied at the HSK 4 level. Its primary reading is shǒu and it means head; chief; first; a measure word for poems or songs. To master it, see it in real Chinese content — import an article or YouTube video into InputDojo and every occurrence becomes a one-tap lookup.
首 appears in everyday chinese words such as 首 (head, first, poem), 首先 (first of all, firstly) and 首都 (capital city).
Chinese words containing 首
Frequently asked questions
What does 首 mean in Chinese?
首 means head; chief; first; a measure word for poems or songs in Chinese. It is one of the HSK 4 hanzi every learner meets at that level.
How is 首 read?
首 is read shǒu. Reading it inside real words — 首 and 首先 and more — is the fastest way to remember it.
What level is 首 — is it HSK 4?
Yes. 首 is on the official HSK 4 hanzi list, so it can appear in that exam's reading and vocabulary sections.
How do you use 首 in a word?
A common word containing 首 is 首 (shǒu) — "head, first, poem". More examples are listed below, each with a one-tap dictionary entry.
How do I learn 首 effectively?
Read it in context. Import any Chinese article or video into InputDojo and every occurrence of 首 becomes a one-tap lookup with SRS flashcards, so you meet it in real sentences instead of a list.
More HSK 4 hanzi
Learn every HSK hanzi in context
InputDojo gives you the full HSK 1–9 hanzi list — plus one-tap lookups in any real Chinese content. Free to start.
Start free