Japanese word

しゃがむ

Pronunciation

Romajishagamu

Meaning

  • verbcrouch

Example

写真を撮るために、しゃがみます。sha shin o to ru ta me ni sha ga mi ma su

I crouch to take a picture.

Illustration for しゃがむ (crouch)

More examples

落とした鍵を拾うために、しゃがみました。o to shi ta kagi o hiro u ta me ni sha ga mi ma shi ta

I crouched down to pick up the key I dropped.

Core concept

Describes lowering the body by bending the knees, often to stay close to the ground or move through a low space.

Common phrases

  • その場にしゃがむso no ba ni sha ga mu

    crouch down there

Similar words

かがむkagamu: To bend the upper body forward, usually by curving at the waist.
うずくまるuzukumaru: To crouch with the body curled into a small shape.
しゃがみ込むshagamikomu: To lower the body into a crouching position and stay there.

Definition in Japanese

立ったまま膝を曲げて身を低くする。ta tta ma ma hiza o ma ge te mi o hiku ku su ru

Word origin

The verb しゃがむ (shagamu) is a native Japanese word, but its earlier formation and origin are uncertain.

Usage tips

  • In English, crouch and squat overlap, but crouch often highlights a temporary low position, while squat can also describe staying low for longer.

Other meanings

  • squatverb

Opposites

Related words

  • しゃがみ込むshagamikomusink into a crouchverb
  • しゃがみ込みshagamikomisinking into a crouchnoun

Word lists with this word