腰（こし）
JLPT N5 · noun
Pitch accent: heiban (flat) — starts low, stays high, no drop
Meaning: waist/hip
Example sentences
- 重い物を持って腰を痛めた。 — I hurt my lower back carrying something heavy.
- 長く座っていると腰が痛くなる。 — Sitting for a long time makes my lower back ache.
Idioms & proverbs containing “腰”
- 逃げ腰 (にげごし) — preparing to flee; being ready to run away
- 腰だめ (こしだめ) — shooting from the hip
- 腰を上げる (こしをあげる) — to get up (from sitting); to stand up
- 話の腰を折る (はなしのこしをおる) — to interfere; to butt in; to interrupt someone
- 本腰を入れる (ほんごしをいれる) — to set about in earnest; to make a strenuous effort; to put one's back into (doing)
- 重い腰を上げる (おもいこしをあげる) — to get off one's backside; to bestir oneself
Related words
See it used in real works
- Example sentences from Japanese novels & web fiction (Massif)
- Hear “腰” pronounced in real videos (YouGlish)