Copyright © 2026 Kotomora. All Rights Reserved.

Words Kanji Guides About

首 (しゅ) Japanese meaning | Kotomora

首しゅ

しゅ

○

Meanings

1

counter

counter for songs and poems

Used to count songs, poems, or musical pieces. Often seen in formal or literary contexts, such as counting waka or haiku.

彼かれは短たん歌かを三さん首しゅ詠よんだ。
He composed three tanka poems.
このアルバムには十じっ首しゅの歌うたが収しゅう録ろくされている。
This album contains ten songs.

Kanji

首neck, counter for songs and poems

Similar words

曲きょく
曲 is a more general counter for musical pieces, while 首 is specifically for songs and poems, often with a literary or classical nuance.

Etymology

The use of 首 as a counter for songs and poems likely derives from the idea of 'head' or 'beginning', as poems often have a distinct opening. The exact historical derivation is uncertain.