Translation guide
How to express 'bend over' in Japanese, covering physical bending forward, leaning over, and related figurative uses.
To bend the upper body forward, often to pick something up, stretch, or bow.
Literally 'bend the waist/hips'. A common, neutral way to say 'bend over' for actions like picking something up.
彼は落ちたペンを拾うために腰を曲げた。
He bent over to pick up the fallen pen.
Means 'to lean forward' or 'bend forward'. Often used for a sustained forward-leaning posture.
前かがみになると腰が痛い。
My back hurts when I bend over.
Literally 'bend one's body'. Slightly more formal or literary, often used for bowing or ducking.
彼は低いドアを通るために身をかがめた。
He bent over to go through the low door.
To bend the upper body over an object, like a table or railing, often to look at or reach something.
Means 'to lean forward' or 'bend over' to see or reach something, often over a barrier or table.
彼は窓から身を乗り出して外を見た。
He bent over the windowsill to look outside.
Literally 'tilt the upper body'. Used in instructions or descriptions of posture, e.g., in exercise.
上体を倒して床に手をつけてください。
Bend over and place your hands on the floor.
To make a great effort or go out of one's way to help or accommodate someone.
Idiom meaning 'to make a great effort', 'to go to great lengths'. Equivalent to 'bend over backwards'.
彼は私のために骨を折ってくれた。
He bent over backwards for me.
Means 'to do everything one can'. A more literal way to express going out of one's way.
彼女は私を助けるためにできる限りのことをした。
She bent over backwards to help me.
To assume a position with the upper body lowered, often with sexual connotations.
Can be used in sexual contexts, but is neutral in tone. Context makes the meaning clear.
This phrase itself is not vulgar; the sexual meaning comes from context.
彼女は前かがみになった。
She bent over.
Literally 'drop the hips'. Can imply a sexual position, but also used in sports or martial arts.
Not inherently vulgar; meaning depends heavily on context.
腰を落として構えた。
He bent over and took a stance.
The English phrase 'bend over' can have a vulgar meaning. In Japanese, there is no single direct equivalent that carries the same vulgar connotation. Use context-appropriate phrases and be aware that direct translations may sound unnatural or overly clinical.