Translation guide
How to express 'stoop' in Japanese, covering physical posture, architectural features, and figurative meanings.
Describing a person bending their upper body forward and downward, often due to age, habit, or to avoid something.
Literally 'cat back', this is the most common word for a stooped or hunched posture, especially as a permanent or habitual condition.
Means 'to round one's back', describing the action of stooping or hunching over. Can be used for temporary or habitual postures.
寒くて背中を丸めた。
I stooped because it was cold.
彼はいつも背中を丸めて歩いている。
He always walks with a stoop.
Means 'leaning forward' or 'bending forward'. Often used for a temporary stoop, like when working at a desk or picking something up.
前かがみの姿勢は腰に悪い。
A stooped posture is bad for your back.
Literally 'to bend one's hips', meaning to stoop or bend down, often from the waist. Used for deliberate actions like bowing or ducking.
彼は腰をかがめて靴ひもを結んだ。
He stooped to tie his shoelaces.
A verb meaning 'to stoop', 'to bend down', or 'to crouch'. Often used for lowering one's body, but less specific to a hunched back than 猫背.
彼はかがんで小銭を拾った。
He stooped to pick up the coin.
Referring to a small raised platform or set of steps leading to a building entrance.
A common term combining 'genkan' (entrance) with the English loanword 'porch'. Refers to a small covered area or steps at the front door.
彼は玄関ポーチに座っていた。
He was sitting on the stoop.
The raised threshold or step at a Japanese entrance where you take off shoes. It functions like a stoop in traditional architecture.
上がり框に腰掛けて靴を脱いだ。
I sat on the stoop and took off my shoes.
General word for 'stairs' or 'steps'. Can be used for the steps leading to a building, but lacks the specific nuance of a small porch.
To do something considered beneath one's dignity or standards.
Literally 'to drop oneself', meaning to stoop to a lower level, often morally or socially. Implies a loss of status or dignity.
彼はそんな不正に身を落とすべきではなかった。
He shouldn't have stooped to such dishonesty.
Means 'to go that far', often used to express that someone has stooped to a surprising or unacceptable action.
彼が嘘をつくなんて、そこまでするとは思わなかった。
I never thought he would stoop to lying.
Literally 'to drop one's dignity', a more formal way to say stoop to something undignified.
彼は品位を落としてまで金を求めなかった。
He didn't stoop so low as to seek money at the cost of his dignity.
The rapid downward dive of a bird of prey.
General term for a steep dive or swoop, used for birds, aircraft, etc.
鷹が獲物に向かって急降下した。
The hawk stooped on its prey.
Means 'descent' or 'dive', but less dramatic than 急降下. Can be used in falconry contexts.
猫背 (nekoze) describes a permanent or habitual stooped posture, like a condition. 背中を丸める (senaka o marumeru) describes the action of rounding one's back, which can be temporary. Use 猫背 for 'He has a stoop' and 背中を丸める for 'He stooped to pick it up'.
彼は猫背だ。
He has a stoop (permanent).
彼は背中を丸めて本を読んだ。
He stooped over his book (temporary action).
There is no single Japanese noun that covers all meanings of 'stoop'. Avoid directly translating 'stoop' as a noun; instead, use the appropriate word or phrase based on context (posture, architecture, moral action, etc.).
家の前の階段に座った。
I sat on the stoop in front of the house.
The hawk's stoop was magnificent.