1.
collar (for a pet or animal)
A band worn around the neck of a dog, cat, or other animal, often for identification or to attach a leash.
犬に首輪をつけた。
I put a collar on the dog.
赤い首輪をした猫を見かけた。
I spotted a cat wearing a red collar.
首輪に名前と電話番号が書いてあったので、飼い主に連絡できた。
The collar had a name and phone number on it, so I was able to contact the owner.
Compound of 首 (neck) + 輪 (ring/band). Refers almost exclusively to animal collars in modern Japanese.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 首輪をつける: to put on a collar
- 首輪を外す: to take off a collar
- 首輪をした犬: a dog wearing a collar
- 首輪に名札をつける: to attach a name tag to a collar
CONTRAST:
- ネックレス: necklace (for people — jewelry)
- リード/引き綱: leash (often attached to the 首輪)
- ハーネス: harness (alternative to collar for dogs)
NOTE:
In modern Japanese, 首輪 is not used for human jewelry. Saying someone has a 首輪 metaphorically implies being controlled or restrained.