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元首 (yuán shǒu) — head of state

Definition

元首 is the formal, written term for the 'head of state' — typically a president or monarch. It is more official than 首脑, which also covers leaders of organizations and is used for summit meetings.

noun
head of state
Measure word · 位

Examples

  • 元首。
    Liǎng guó yuán shǒu qiān shǔ le hé zuò xié yì.
    The heads of state of the two countries signed a cooperation agreement.
  • 元首。
    Zhè wèi yuán shǒu jí jiāng duì lín guó jìn xíng guó shì fǎng wèn.
    This head of state will soon pay a state visit to a neighboring country.
  • 元首。
    yuán shǒu Yóu gōng mín zhí jiē xuǎn jǔ chǎn shēng.
    The head of state is directly elected by citizens.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

元yuánchief
首shǒuleader

元 “chief” and 首 “leader” combine to mean the chief leader of a state.

Characters in this word

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

The shape 元 shows a figure with two lines for a head, one connected to the body and one above it, emphasizing the head.

Open 元 →

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

The shape comes from an old drawing of an animal's head, showing a long mouth and horns; the version with hair became 首.

Open 首 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 7-9HSK 2.0 Level 6Government & Politics

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