首
The 首 radical
Head; first
Memory hook
A head with hair standing above and an eye below. The head sits highest, hence 'foremost': 首都 (capital city), 首先 (first of all).
The 首 radical (read shǒu) means head; first. The HSK 3.0 data contains 1 characters and 16 words built on it — learning them together is far faster than one character at a time.
Practise the 首 radical
Study this radical's 16 words with flashcards or a quiz.
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Characters with the 首 radical
1 charactersHSK 3· 1 characters
HSK 3首
head
Vocabulary with the 首 radical
16 wordsWords containing at least one character with the 首 radical, ordered by HSK level.
first of all; first
capital city
head
chief, head (of a delegation, an editorial office, etc.)
for the first time
prime minister, premier
head (of state), summit
to bow one's head
head of state
to turn one's head and look back
the ringleader who causes a crime or disaster
to pioneer, to initiate, to be the first to create
regional capital
first batch, first lot
foremost, most important
jewelry
Why learn vocabulary by the 首 radical?
The 首 radical hints at the meaning head; first. When you meet an unfamiliar character carrying it, you already know part of its meaning before reaching for a dictionary — which is why learners who know their radicals move faster.
How to study: read the memory hook, skim the 1 characters to spot the pattern, then drill the 16 words with flashcards. Spaced repetition brings each word back exactly when you need it.