首脳

• 読み: しゅのう
• ローマ字: shounou
• 漢字の分解: 首 (shu/kubi) — head, neck; 脳 (nou) — brain
• 発音: /ɕɯ.noː/

意味

Head; leader; top figure. Used for the highest-ranking leaders of states or organisations.

A noun referring to the topmost leaders, especially heads of state or government. Very common in the compound 首脳会談 (summit meeting). Unlike リーダー which is general, 首脳 specifically implies the highest echelon of authority. Predominantly used in formal, political, and diplomatic contexts.

例文

1. 各国の首脳が集まって国際会議が開かれた。
2. 首脳会談で貿易問題について話し合われた。
3. 与党の首脳が記者会見を行った。

使い方ガイド

場面: politics, diplomacy, international relations

トーン: formal

起源と歴史

Compound of 首 (shu, head) + 脳 (nou, brain). Literally 'head and brain,' metaphorically referring to the thinking centre of an organisation or nation — its top leadership.

文化的背景

時代: Modern

世代: Adults

社会的背景: Professional