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Kotomora

脛

leg, shin

Strokes11

Readings

On'yomi

  • ケイ

Kun'yomi

  • すね
  • はぎ

Meaning

脛 centers on the lower leg, specifically the shin area between the knee and ankle.

Most common words using 脛

  • 脛すね
    N1

    shin; shank; lower leg

  • 脛骨けいこつ

    tibia; shinbone

  • 脹脛ふくらはぎ

    calf

  • 前脛骨筋ぜんけいこつきん

    anterior tibial muscle; musculus tibialis anterior

  • 向こう脛むこうずね

    shin; front of lower leg

  • 後脛骨筋こうけいこつきん

    tibialis posterior muscle

  • 毛脛けずね

    hairy legs

  • 痩せ脛やせずね

    thin leg

  • 脛に疵持つすねにきずもつ

    to have a guilty conscience

  • 脛を齧るすねをかじる

    to depend on someone else's (financial) support (usu. one's parents'); to gnaw on (someone's) shin

  • 脛巾はばき

    leggings; gaiters

  • 脛節けいせつ

    tibia (of an insect)

  • 脛骨動脈けいこつどうみゃく

    tibial artery

  • 腕一本脛一本うでいっぽんすねいっぽん

    relying on one's own resources; being entirely on one's own

Explore all words using 脛 →

Study

Etymology

脛 combines the flesh radical ⺼ with 巠, which likely contributes the sound. The character specifically refers to the shin or lower leg.

Meaning mnemonic

The flesh radical ⺼ on the left points to a body part, and the right side 巠 looks like a vertical line with cross-strokes, like the straight shin bone. Together they form 脛, the shin.

Reading mnemonic

For ケイ, imagine a shin guard shaped like the letter K: K -> ケイ, protecting the straight shin bone.