Kanji 元 beginning, former time, origin 首 neck, counter for songs and poems Related words 君主 refers specifically to a hereditary monarch, while 元首 is the broader constitutional term for a head of state that can also be a president.
大統領 means specifically a president, whereas 元首 is the general title for whoever formally holds the top state office, be it a president or monarch.
首相 is the head of government who runs day-to-day politics, while 元首 is the formal head of state, and the two roles are not always held by the same person.
元首 is a neutral, general term for 'head of state', while 総統 specifically implies absolute military-political authority.
Don't confuse with 元首 refers to the head of state (e.g. an emperor or president), while 首班 refers specifically to the head of the cabinet/government, so the two are not interchangeable.
元首 means the head of state, sharing the kanji 元 with 元老 but referring to a completely different role than an elder statesman or veteran authority.
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.
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