Japanese kanji 頭: head

The idea

Kanji may have Japanese-origin and Chinese-origin readings; learn each with its word. Compare 頭（あたま） and 頭痛（ずつう）. 頭 has 16 strokes; follow their order in the linked KanjiVG diagram.

Examples

• 今日きょうは頭あたまが痛いたいです。My head hurts today.
• タオルで頭あたまを拭ふきました。I dried my head with a towel.
• 頭痛ずつうについて医者いしゃに相談そうだんしました。I consulted a doctor about my headache.
• 休やすんだら頭痛ずつうが少すこし和やわらぎました。After I rested, my headache eased a little.
• 先頭せんとうの人ひとが旗はたを持もっています。The person at the front is holding a flag.
• 列れつの先頭せんとうで待まっています。I am waiting at the front of the line.

Watch out

頭 is read あたま alone, ず in 頭痛 and とう in 先頭; learn the reading with each word. Compare the components: 頭：豆＋頁／顔：彦＋頁。

Try it yourself

1. Write the reading of 頭 in hiragana.

   Show answer or example answer

   あたま

   頭 is read あたま; it means head. Learn the reading as part of this word.

2. Write the reading of 頭痛 in hiragana.

   Show answer or example answer

   ずつう

   頭痛 is read ずつう; it means headache. Learn the reading as part of this word.

3. Fill in the missing kanji: 先＿（せんとう）.

   Show answer or example answer

   頭

   頭 completes 先頭, read せんとう; the word means the front; the head of a line.

Use it today

Cover the table, write 頭 from memory, and read 頭 and 頭痛 aloud. Then check the readings and meanings.