Translation guide
The act of resting on one or both knees. In Japanese, the most common and culturally significant form is 正座 (seiza), the formal, upright kneeling posture. Other terms describe the action of kneeling down, being on one's knees, or kneeling in specific contexts.
The traditional Japanese way of sitting on the floor with legs folded underneath, often in formal settings, martial arts, or traditional ceremonies.
The standard term for the formal kneeling-sitting posture. It implies both the action of sitting in this way and the state of being seated thus. Used in contexts like tea ceremony, martial arts, and formal dining.
畳の上で正座する。
I sit in seiza on the tatami.
正座をして挨拶する。
Greet someone while sitting in seiza.
Verb phrase meaning 'to sit in seiza' or 'to assume the seiza posture'. Often used when instructing or describing the action.
先生が入ってきたら、正座をしてください。
Please sit in seiza when the teacher enters.
The physical movement of going down onto one's knees, often from a standing position.
To kneel down, often on one or both knees. Can imply a gesture of supplication, respect, or submission. Used in both literal and figurative contexts.
彼は王の前に跪いた。
He knelt before the king.
祈りを捧げるために跪く。
Kneel to offer a prayer.
Literally 'to put one's knees on the ground'. A more physical description of kneeling down, often used in everyday speech. Can also mean to give in or admit defeat in a metaphorical sense.
疲れてその場に膝をついた。
Exhausted, I knelt down on the spot.
彼は痛みで膝をついた。
He fell to his knees in pain.
Literally 'to fold one's knees'. A more literary or poetic expression for kneeling down, often implying a graceful or deliberate action.
The state of resting on the knees, not necessarily in the formal seiza posture.
The state of being on one's knees with the upper body upright. Often used in contexts like martial arts, exercise, or when reaching for something low.
膝立ちの姿勢で待つ。
Wait in a kneeling position.
膝立ちになって棚の下を探す。
Get on my knees and search under the shelf.
To be on one's knees with the knees raised (not sitting back on the heels). Often used when describing a crouching or ready position.
彼は膝を立てて座っていた。
He was sitting with his knees up.
A deep, prostrate kneeling bow used to express extreme apology or supplication.
The act of kneeling on the ground and bowing deeply until one's head touches the floor. A dramatic gesture of apology or entreaty, often seen in historical dramas or extreme modern situations.
彼は土下座して謝った。
He apologized by prostrating himself (dogeza).
土下座をするほど謝る必要はない。
There's no need to apologize so abjectly (lit. to the point of dogeza).
正座 (seiza) is a specific formal sitting posture with legs folded under the body, while 跪く (hizamazuku) and 膝をつく (hiza o tsuku) refer to the action of kneeling down, often on one or both knees. 跪く can carry a nuance of supplication or reverence, whereas 膝をつく is more neutral and physical. 土下座 (dogeza) is an extreme form of kneeling apology.
In English, 'kneeling' can sometimes describe a casual posture on the floor, but in Japanese, 正座 is a formal, culturally loaded posture. For casual sitting on the floor, use 座る (suwaru) or あぐらをかく (agura o kaku, sitting cross-legged).
彼女は祭壇の前で静かに膝を折った。
She quietly knelt before the altar.