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元首 (げんしゅ) Japanese meaning | Kotomora
Common word JLPT N1 Freq. Frequency Top 50,000 Meanings 1
noun
head of state ; sovereign ; ruler
A political or constitutional term for the formal head of a country, such as a monarch or president; it does not necessarily mean the person who runs the government day to day.
The head of state of the United Kingdom is the king.
Kanji 元 beginning, former time, origin 首 neck, counter for songs and poems Similar words 君くん 主しゅ Means a monarch or sovereign ruler; 元首 is broader and can refer to a president or other formal head of state.
首しゅ 相しょう Means prime minister, usually the head of government; a 首相 is not always the 元首.
大だい 統とう 領りょう Means president; in some countries a 大統領 is the 元首, but the words are not interchangeable.
Etymology A Sino-Japanese compound written with 元, here suggesting the principal or primary position, and 首, meaning head or chief; together it denotes the chief person at the head of a state.
