How common it is
首 appears often in everyday Chinese, so it is worth practicing early and reviewing often.
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Pronunciation focus
Say shǒu slowly first, then repeat it in a short phrase. Listen for the tone shape.
Usage note
首表示第一，也可表示头。
shǒu biǎo shì dì yī， yě kě biǎo shì tóu。
First can mean the first one or the head.
Context note
首常用于数量、位置和成语。
shǒu cháng yòng yú shù liàng 、 wèi zhì hé chéng yǔ。
First often appears with numbers, position, and idioms.
5 examples
第一首歌很好听。
dì yī shǒu gē hěn hǎo tīng。
The first song sounds good.
这首诗很有名。
zhè shǒu shī hěn yǒu míng。
This poem is very famous.
首要任务是学习。
shǒu yào rèn wu shì xué xí。
The primary task is studying.
他抬起头。
tā tái qǐ tóu。
He lifted his head.
首都很大。
shǒu dū hěn dà。
The capital is very big.
5 mini stories
我最喜欢这首歌。
wǒ zuì xǐ huan zhè shǒu gē。
I like this song best.
老师让我们背第一首诗。
lǎo shī ràng wǒ men bèi dì yī shǒu shī。
The teacher asked us to memorize the first poem.
这件事是首要问题。
zhè jiàn shì shì shǒu yào wèn tí。
This is the primary issue.
他把头抬得很高。
tā bǎ tóu tái dé hěn gāo。
He lifted his head very high.
首都的车很多。
shǒu dū de chē hěn duō。
There are many cars in the capital.