Japanese word

親指

Pronunciation

Romajioyayubi

Meaning

  • nounthumb

Example

親指でボタンを押します。oya yubi de bo ta n o o shi ma su

I press the button with my thumb.

Illustration for 親指 (thumb)

More examples

彼は親指と人差し指で紙をつまみます。kare wa oya yubi to hito sa shi yubi de kami o tsu ma mi ma su

He pinches the paper between his thumb and index finger.

Core concept

Refers to the short, thick finger set apart from the other fingers and used for grasping, pressing, and pointing.

Common phrases

  • 親指で押すoya yubi de o su

    press with your thumb

  • 親指を立てるoya yubi o ta te ru

    give a thumbs-up

  • 親指の付け根oya yubi no tsu ke ne

    base of the thumb

Definition in Japanese

手のひらの端にあり、ほかの指と向かい合って物をつまむのに使う太く短い指。te no hi ra no hashi ni a ri ho ka no yubi to mu ka i a tte mono o tsu ma mu no ni tsuka u futo ku mijika i yubi

Word origin

The native Japanese word 親指 (oyayubi) combines 親 (oya, "parent") and 指 (yubi, "finger"), naming the thumb as the parent or chief finger.

Usage tips

  • The English word thumb appears in thumbs-up, where raising this finger signals approval, making the body-part meaning part of a familiar gesture.

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