首席

• Pinyin: shǒu xí
• Hanzi breakdown: 首 = head/chief; 席 = 巾 (cloth) + 庶 (many) — woven mat/seat

Meaning

Chief; principal; head; first seat. The highest-ranking position in a category or group.

Used as a title prefix indicating the top position in a particular role or category. Common in corporate titles (首席执行官 CEO), orchestras (首席小提琴), and other professional contexts. Originally referred to the seat of honor at the head of a banquet.

Examples

1. 他去年被任命为公司的首席技术官，负责整个技术团队。 He was appointed as the company's Chief Technology Officer last year, responsible for the entire tech team.
2. 她是乐团的首席小提琴手，演奏水平在国内数一数二。 She is the principal violinist of the orchestra, and her performance level is among the best in the country.
3. 首席经济学家对明年的经济形势持谨慎乐观的态度。 The chief economist holds a cautiously optimistic attitude toward next year's economic situation.

Usage Guide

Context: corporate, professional, arts

Tone: professional

Do Say

• 他是我们公司的首席顾问。(He is the chief consultant of our company.)
• 首席执行官将在会上发言。(The CEO will speak at the meeting.)

Don't Say

• 他是首席很好的人。(首席 is a title, not a description — say 他这个首席做得很好)

Origin & History

Compound of 首 (head, first) and 席 (seat, mat). Literally 'first seat,' originally the position of honor at banquets, extended to mean chief or principal.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Professional