首(くび)

くび
noun
neck
businessbody-part
1. neck
The part of the body connecting the head to the shoulders. Used for physical descriptions and neck-related expressions.
首(くび)が痛(いた)いです。
My neck hurts.
首(くび)を長(なが)くして待(ま)っています。
I'm waiting eagerly.
Literally 'waiting with a long neck'
マフラーを首(くび)に巻(ま)きました。
I wrapped a scarf around my neck.
首(くび)を右(みぎ)に曲(ま)げてください。
Please turn your neck to the right.
首(くび)が凝(こ)っています。
My neck is stiff.
首(くび)を傾(かし)げた。
I tilted my head.
2. dismissal, firing (from a job)
Colloquially, 首(くび)になる means to be fired from a job. This usage comes from the old practice of beheading.
彼(かれ)は仕事(しごと)で首(くび)になった。
He got fired from his job.
社長(しゃちょう)に首(くび)にされた。
I was fired by the president.
遅刻(ちこく)ばかりだと首(くび)になるよ。
If you keep being late, you'll get fired.
あの社員(しゃいん)を首(くび)にした。
I fired that employee.
仕事(しごと)ができないと首(くび)になりますよ。
If you can't do the job, you'll get fired.

首(くび) refers to the neck, and also means 'firing' in business contexts.

Common expressions (BODY)

Common expressions

首(くび)を長(なが)くして待(ま)つ: to wait eagerly (lit. 'wait with a long neck')

Business expressions

Related body parts

Related Words

Related: 頭(あたま) (head)
Related: 肩(かた) (shoulder)
Related: 喉(のど) (throat)
Related: うなじ (nape of the neck)
basic
Added 2026.1.7 21:47 · Revised 2026.9.4 21:29
00500/00792_kubi