Translation guide
The English word 'butt' is a casual term for the buttocks. In Japanese, the most common equivalent is お尻 (oshiri), but there are many other words depending on formality, context, and nuance. This guide covers the most useful options for learners.
The most common, everyday word for 'butt' in casual conversation.
The standard, slightly polite but still casual word for buttocks. Used by all ages. Can also mean 'bottom' or 'rear'.
お尻が痛い。
My butt hurts.
赤ちゃんのお尻を拭く。
Wipe the baby's bottom.
A more blunt, sometimes vulgar version of お尻. Used in rough speech or compound words.
Can sound crude; お尻 is safer.
尻を蹴られた。
I got kicked in the butt.
Slang for 'butt' or 'ass'. Very casual, often used among friends or in rough speech.
Vulgar; avoid in polite settings.
ケツがでかい。
He's got a big butt.
Hiragana version of お尻, often used in children's contexts or to soften the word.
おしりぺんぺん！
I'll spank your bottom!
Formal or medical terms for buttocks.
Anatomical term for 'buttocks'. Used in medical contexts.
臀部の筋肉を鍛える。
Train the gluteal muscles.
Formal term for the buttocks area, often used in medical or technical writing.
尻部に注射を打つ。
Give an injection in the buttock.
The remaining end of a cigarette, pencil, etc.
Specifically a cigarette butt.
吸い殻を灰皿に捨てる。
Throw the cigarette butt in the ashtray.
Can mean the butt end of something, like a cigarette or pencil, but less common alone.
Often used in compounds like タバコの尻.
The person or thing that is the object of a joke or criticism.
Pattern meaning 'target of ~'. Use with words like 冗談 (joke) or 批判 (criticism).
彼はいつも冗談の的だ。
He's always the butt of jokes.
Literally 'prey of ~', meaning victim or butt of something negative.
彼は批判の餌食になった。
He became the butt of criticism.
To interrupt a conversation or activity rudely.
To cut into a conversation; to interject.
会話に口を挟まないで。
Don't butt into the conversation.
To cut in line or interrupt physically/verbally.
話に割り込むな。
Don't butt into our talk.
To argue or come into conflict with someone.
To clash or collide, used for opinions or personalities.
彼とはよく衝突する。
I often butt heads with him.
To have a heated argument or fight.
上司とやり合った。
I butted heads with my boss.
The English phrasal verb 'butt in' does not translate directly using お尻. Use 口を挟む or 割り込む instead.
口を挟む
butt in (verbally)
お尻 is the standard, polite-enough word for buttocks. ケツ is slang and can be vulgar. Use お尻 in most situations, especially with people you don't know well.
長時間座ってお尻が痛い。
My butt is sore from sitting too long.
cigarette butt