Translation guide
The part of the body connecting the head and torso, and related concepts like the neck of an object or a narrow part.
The physical neck of a person or animal.
The most common and general word for 'neck' in Japanese. Used for both people and animals.
首が痛い。
My neck hurts.
A giraffe's neck is long.
The part of a garment that surrounds the neck, like a collar or neckline.
The slender part of something, like a bottle or a musical instrument.
To be fired from a job (idiomatic, related to 'neck' as in 'get the axe').
The front part of the neck, including the throat, often in medical or choking contexts.
Primarily means 'throat', but can overlap with the front of the neck. Use when referring to swallowing, choking, or the inside of the neck.
I'm thirsty. (lit. throat is dry)
Something got stuck in my throat.
A narrow strip of land, such as an isthmus or a peninsula neck.
首 (くび) is the body part, while 襟 (えり) is the collar of clothing. Using 首 for a shirt collar sounds odd.
My neck hurts.
The collar is dirty.
The phrase 首になる (to be fired) is extremely common and should be learned as a set phrase. It does not literally mean 'to become a neck' in modern usage.
V-neck sweater
Bottleneck
社長は彼の首を切った。
The boss fired him.
Neck of the peninsula