Copyright © 2026 Kotomora. All Rights Reserved.

Words Kanji Guides About

首をすくめる (くびをすくめる) Japanese meaning | Kotomora

首くびをすくめる

Meanings

1

expression, ichidan verb

duck one's head; shrug one's shoulders

Describes pulling the head down between the shoulders, often from cold, fear, or embarrassment. The gesture can involve both head and shoulders.

See also: 竦める (すくめる)

寒さむくて思おもわず首くびをすくめた。
It was so cold I instinctively ducked my head.
彼かれは叱しかられて首くび

を

すくめ

ながら

謝あやま

っ

た

。

He apologized while shrugging his shoulders after being scolded.

Written forms

首くびをすくめる
Standard kana spelling for the verb すくめる in this expression; the kanji 竦める is less common.
首くびを竦すくめる
Kanji spelling using 竦める, which is rare and may not be widely recognized.

Kanji

首neck, counter for songs and poems
竦crouch, cower

Similar words

竦すくめる
The verb すくめる means to shrug or contract (shoulders, neck, etc.). 首をすくめる is the most common collocation.
肩かたをすくめる
Means 'to shrug one's shoulders' (often as a Western-style gesture of indifference). 首をすくめる focuses more on pulling the head down.

Etymology

The verb すくめる means to contract or draw in; the expression literally means 'to contract one's neck'. The kanji 竦 is rare and may not be etymologically transparent.