Translation guide
A pinky promise is a childish vow made by interlocking little fingers. In Japanese, this gesture is called 指切り (yubikiri), and it is often accompanied by a rhyme. The concept is culturally recognized but used mainly among children or in lighthearted contexts.
To make a pinky promise by interlocking little fingers, often with a rhyme.
The noun for the pinky promise gesture. Often used with する to mean 'to pinky promise'.
Let's pinky promise.
When I was a child, I often made pinky promises.
The first part of the traditional pinky promise rhyme. It is often recited while hooking pinkies.
The children said, 'Pinky promise, if you lie, you'll swallow a thousand needles.'
The full traditional rhyme. It means 'Pinky promise, if you lie, you'll swallow a thousand needles.' Used mostly by children.
She laughed and said, 'Pinky promise, if you lie, you'll swallow a thousand needles.'
In everyday adult conversation, simply saying 約束 (yakusoku, promise) while doing the pinky gesture is natural. The word 指切り is childish.
Okay, it's a promise. (while hooking pinkies)
To make a lighthearted, non-binding promise, often with a playful tone.
Even without the full rhyme, saying just 指切りげんまん while hooking pinkies conveys a playful promise.
'I'll definitely return it tomorrow. Pinky promise!' he said.
Adults may just say 約束 (yakusoku) with a playful tone and the pinky gesture to convey the same feeling without sounding childish.
It's a promise. Pinky promise.
指切り is strongly associated with children. Using it in serious adult contexts may sound immature or joking. For serious promises, use 約束 (yakusoku) or 誓い (chikai).
The pinky hooking gesture is universally understood in Japan. You can simply do the gesture and say 約束 (yakusoku) to convey a pinky promise without using the word 指切り.