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.
首筋に汗をかいた。
I broke out in sweat on the back of my neck.
冷たい風が首筋に当たって寒気がした。
The cold wind hit the back of my neck and I felt a chill.
日焼け止めを首筋にも忘れずに塗ってください。
Don't forget to apply sunscreen to the back of your neck as well.
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.
RELATED BODY PARTS:
- 首: neck (general)
- {うなじ}: nape of the neck (more literary/aesthetic)
- 喉: throat
- 肩: shoulder