首(くび)

くび

noun

neck

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.

I'm waiting eagerly.

Literally 'waiting with a long neck'

I wrapped a scarf around my neck.

Please turn your neck to the right.

My neck is stiff.

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.

He got fired from his job.

I was fired by the president.

If you keep being late, you'll get fired.

I fired that employee.

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):

IDIOM:
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:

basic

Added 2026.1.7 21:47 · Revised 2026.5.13 5:13

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