1.
nape of the neck; back of the neck
The area at the back or side of the neck, from the base of the skull down to the shoulders.
The back and sides of the neck. Composed of 首 (neck) + 筋 (line, sinew) — literally the "line of the neck."
Common collocations
- 首筋に触れる: to touch the nape
- 首筋が寒い: the back of the neck is cold
- 首筋に汗をかく: to sweat on the back of the neck
- 首筋がぞくっとする: to feel a shiver down the back of the neck
Usage
Often appears in literature and descriptions of physical sensation — cold breezes, shivers, someone's touch. The 首筋 is considered a sensitive and intimate area.