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11 首位 First Place

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Meaning

Primary

First Place

Alternatives

Head Position, Leading Position, First Position

Word Type

noun, の adjective

Explanation

If you’re at neck rank you’re in first place. Haven’t you ever heard the phrase, “neck and neck” when two people in a race are both super close to first place? Just remember that and you’ll never forget this word.

Reading

しゅい
  • Kyoko
    (Tokyo accent, female)
  • Kenichi
    (Tokyo accent, male)

Explanation

This is a jukugo word, which usually means on'yomi readings from the kanji. You learned this reading for 首 when you learned 部首, and the reading for 位 is the one you learned with the kanji, so you should be able to read this on your own.

Context

Patterns of Use

首位に〜 首位を〜

Common Word Combinations

  • 首位に立つ

    to rise to first place

    首位になる

    to come first

    首位にならぶ

    to tie for first place

Context Sentences

学力テストで首位に立った。

I got the first place in an academic test.

首位打者がケガをしたせいで、首位のチームに６ゲームさを付けられてしまった。

Since our leading hitter got injured, we fell six games behind first place.

その老人は、両チームの首位争いには全く興味が無いようだった。

That old person seemed to have zero interest in both teams' fight for first place.

Kanji Composition