Meaning
The kanji 頭 primarily refers to the physical head of a person or animal. Beyond anatomy, it represents the "top" or "foremost" part of any object. You will see it used to describe the beginning of a speech (冒頭) or the front of a line (先頭). It also describes intellectual capacity, as seen in the common phrase atama ga ii (smart). Finally, it serves as a specific counter for large animals like cows and elephants.
This character is a phono-semantic compound. On the right, the radical 頁 (ōgai) originally depicted a person with a prominent head. This radical appears in several characters related to the face or head. On the left, 豆 (mame) means "bean" but here provides the phonetic "TOU" reading. Japanese children learn this 16-stroke character in 2nd grade. It is a vital kanji for N4 learners because it bridges physical descriptions with abstract concepts like leadership and mental state.
Readings
On'yomi (音読み) — Chinese-derived readings
The most frequent on'yomi is トウ (TŌ). You will encounter this in formal, academic, or technical compounds. It is also the standard reading for counting large beasts.
- 頭部 (tōbu) — The head region (medical/formal)
- 冒頭 (bōtō) — The very beginning or opening (of a book or talk)
- 一頭 (ittō) — One large animal (counter)
The reading ズ (ZU) is a "Go-on" reading from an older layer of Chinese influence. It typically appears in words related to physical health or traditional clothing.
- 頭痛 (zutsū) — A headache
- 頭巾 (zukin) — A hood or kerchief
- 頭脳 (zunō) — Brains or intellectual power
The reading ト (TO) is rare, appearing mainly in specific cultural terms.
- 音頭 (ondo) — A folk marching song or leading a chant
Kun'yomi (訓読み) — Native Japanese readings
The primary native reading is あたま (atama). This is the everyday word for your physical head or your intelligence.
- 頭がいい (atama ga ii) — Smart or bright
- 頭をさげる (atama wo sageru) — To bow or apologize
The reading かしら (kashira) implies authority or the very top tip of something. It is more literary or specialized than atama.
- 頭 (kashira) — The boss or leader of a group
- 頭文字 (kashiramoji) — Initials or the first letter of a word
Common Words & Compounds
The kanji 頭 is versatile, appearing in medical, business, and idiomatic contexts.
Physical and Daily Life
- 頭痛 (zutsū) — Headache; a common daily ailment.
- 頭皮 (tōhi) — Scalp; literally "head skin."
- 洗髪 — While this means shampooing, 頭部 is used for "head area" in salon settings.
Intellectual and Abstract Contexts
- 頭脳 (zunō) — The "brains" behind an operation or a person's intellect.
- 口頭 (kōtō) — Oral or verbal; used for exams or reports.
- 念頭 (nentō) — Mind; used in the phrase "keep in mind" (念頭に置く).
Positions and Leadership
- 先頭 (sentō) — The lead; the very front of a line or parade.
- 頭取 (tōdori) — The president of a bank.
- 店頭 (tentō) — Over-the-counter or shop-front.
Example Sentences
テストの前から、頭が痛いです。
Tesuto no mae kara, atama ga itai desu.
My head has been hurting since before the test.
あの学生は、とても頭がいいです。
Ano gakusei wa, totemo atama ga ii desu.
That student is very intelligent.
この牧場には、牛が十頭います。
Kono bokujō ni wa, ushi ga jittō imasu.
There are ten cows on this farm.
会議の冒頭で、社長が挨拶をした。
Kaigi no bōtō de, shachō ga aisatsu wo shita.
The president gave a greeting at the start of the meeting.
弟のいたずらに、頭にきました。
Otōto no itazura ni, atama ni kimashita.
I got really angry at my younger brother's prank.
口頭で報告をお願いします。
Kōtō de hōkoku wo onegai shimasu.
Please provide your report verbally.
新しいアイディアが頭に浮かびました。
Atarashii aidia ga atama ni ukabimashita.
A new idea popped into my head.
彼の努力には、本当に頭がさがります。
Kare no doryoku ni wa, hontō ni atama ga sagarimasu.
I truly admire (bow to) his hard work.
Related Kanji
- 首 — Neck, Head, Chief (Kanji N4)
- 顔 — Face, Look, Reputation (Kanji N4)
- 心 — Heart, Mind, Spirit (Kanji N4)
- 弟 — Younger Brother, Junior (Kanji N4)
- 黒 — Black, Dark (Kanji N4)
- 洗 — Wash (Kanji N4)
Memory Tip
To remember 頭, look at its two halves: 豆 (bean) and 頁 (head/page). Imagine your head is like a giant "bean" (豆) that stores thousands of "pages" (頁) of information. Alternatively, visualize the 頁 radical as a person with a stiff neck, and the 豆 on the left as a small pedestal supporting their large head.