Translation guide
The fleshy part of the body you sit on. Japanese has many words for buttocks, ranging from clinical to casual, and some are used metaphorically.
Referring to the buttocks in a neutral, everyday context.
The most common and polite word for buttocks. Suitable for most situations, including with children.
お尻が痛い。
My butt hurts.
赤ちゃんのお尻を拭く。
Wipe the baby's bottom.
The same as お尻 but without the honorific prefix. Slightly more direct or casual. Used in compounds.
尻が大きい。
He/She has a big butt.
Informal ways to say butt, often among friends or in relaxed settings.
Very common slang for butt. Can be vulgar in polite contexts, but widely used among friends.
A slightly softened version of ケツ, adding the polite お prefix. Still casual.
おケツが痛いよ。
My butt hurts.
Loanword from English 'hip', often used in fashion or fitness contexts to refer to the buttocks area.
ヒップアップエクササイズ
butt-lifting exercises
Clinical or polite terms used in medical, formal, or written contexts.
The anatomical term for buttocks. Used in medical settings or formal descriptions.
臀部に注射をする。
Give an injection in the buttock.
Specifically the anus, not the buttocks. Sometimes confused by learners. Use only when referring to the anus.
Not a general word for buttocks. Refers to the anus.
Words used with small children or in a cute, affectionate manner.
Literally 'butt detective', a popular children's book character. Not a general term, but recognizable.
おしりたんていの本を読む。
Read a Butt Detective book.
Expressions where 'butt' is used figuratively, often to mean the end or bottom of something.
Literally 'to slap someone's butt', but idiomatically means to push or motivate someone to work harder.
上司に尻を叩かれた。
My boss pushed me to work harder.
Idiom meaning a wife dominates her husband (lit. 'to spread under one's butt').
彼は奥さんに尻に敷かれている。
He is henpecked by his wife.
The very end or last place, like the tail end of a line. From 尻 (butt/end).
行列のどん尻に並ぶ。
Stand at the very end of the line.
While お尻 is generally safe, using ケツ in formal situations or with strangers can be rude. Stick to お尻 unless you're sure of the context.
お尻 is the standard, polite word. ケツ is slang and can be vulgar. Use お尻 with people you don't know well, children, or in any situation where politeness is expected. ケツ is fine among close friends.
proctology department