How to Write 脖 (bó) — Meaning “neck”

Think of a crescent moon (月) around your neck like a scarf. The right part 孛 looks like a comet streaking across the sky, and you can imagine a comet necklace touching your neck. This image helps you associate the shape with the meaning "neck".

Start by writing the left radical 月 with a narrow shape, then write the right side 孛. Pay attention to the dot on top of 子 inside 孛 – many learners forget it. Keep the left side slightly shorter than the right side, and make sure the horizontal strokes are evenly spaced.

脖 means neck, while 朐 (qú) is rare and means dried meat or a part of a bow. 朔 (shuò) means new moon or the first day of a lunar month. Visually, 脖 has 孛 on the right, 朐 has 句 (a hook shape), and 朔 has 屰 (reversed). The radical 月 is shared, but the right components are completely different.

脖 appears in everyday words like 脖子 (bó zi, neck) and 围脖 (wéi bó, scarf). You can use it when talking about body parts or clothing, for example "我的脖子有点疼" (My neck hurts a little). Although not in HSK, it is a common character in daily life.

Common words containing 脖 include: 脖子 (bó zi) — neck; 围脖 (wéi bó) — Scarf / Muffler; 脖领 (bó lǐng) — collar.