Japanese word

腰

Pronunciation

Romajikoshi

Meaning

  • nounlower back

Example

腰が痛いです。koshi ga ita i de su

My lower back hurts.

Illustration for 腰 (lower back)

More examples

重い荷物を持つと、腰に負担がかかります。omo i ni motsu o mo tsu to koshi ni fu tan ga ka ka ri ma su

Lifting heavy things puts strain on your lower back.

Core concept

Centers on the body area around the lower back, waist, and hips.

Common phrases

  • 腰が痛いkoshi ga ita i

    have lower back pain

  • 腰を痛めるkoshi o ita me ru

    injure the lower back

Similar words

腰回りkoshimawari: A noun for the area around the waist and lower back in everyday speech.

Definition in Japanese

背中の下部から骨盤の周囲にかけての部分。se naka no ka bu ka ra kotsu ban no shū i ni ka ke te no bu bun

Word origin

The native Japanese word 腰 (koshi, "lower back") is written with the kanji 腰, whose 月 (nikuzuki, "flesh") component marks a body part and whose 要 (yō, phonetic element) helps indicate its sound.

Usage tips

  • In descriptions of physical discomfort, 腰 (koshi) often refers to the lower back, so waist is not always the best English choice.

Other meanings

  • waistnoun
  • hipsnoun

Word lists with this word