How to say "neck" in Japanese

• くびJLPT N4approx.Common
  nounThe everyday word for the neck of a person or animal, the part joining head and shoulders. When English 'neck' means the body part, this is almost always the word you want.
  その首くびと頭部とうぶはとてもやわらかかった。↗

  Its neck and head were very soft.
• ネックCommon
  nounA loanword that in practice is heard chiefly in the figurative sense of a bottleneck or snag; for the body part it is seldom the word you want — use くび.
• 襟えりJLPT N1approx.Common
  nounCovers the collar, lapel or neckband of a garment; its 'neck' sense is the neckline of clothing, not the body. Choose it when English 'neck' refers to a shirt or coat.
  彼かれのえりのサイズはいくつですか。↗

  What size of collar does he take?
• 竿さおJLPT N1approx.Common
  nounIts 'neck' sense is the long slender neck of a shamisen or similar instrument, and by extension the instrument itself; it is not a word for the body part.

Use 「くび」 for the neck as a body part; 襟 for the collar or neckline of a garment; 竿 for the neck of a shamisen; 「ネック」 is a loanword heard mostly in figurative 'bottleneck' uses rather than for the body.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

• くびneck
• ネックneck
• 襟えりcollar
• 喉首のどくびneck
• 頸部けいぶneck
• いちゃつくto make out
• 項領こうりょうcollar
• 襟元えりもと(around the) neck
• 竿さおneck (of a shamisen, etc.)
• スロートneck (narrow part of a utensil)
• 雁首がんくびneck
• ふざけるto neck