あぐら

あ

ぐ

ら

Common wordJLPTN1Freq.FrequencyTop 50,000

Meanings

1

noun

sitting cross-legged

usually written using kana alone

Refers to the sitting posture with legs crossed in front, common in informal settings. Often used in the phrase あぐらをかく.

Expressions

あぐらをかくsit cross-legged · rest on one's laurels; be self-complacent

Kanji

胡barbarian, foreign
坐sit
座squat, seat, cushion
床bed, counter for beds, floor
趺foot, calyx, sitting in the lotus position

Related words

正せい座ざ
正座 is the formal kneeling posture, while あぐら is the informal cross-legged sitting.

Opposites

正せい座ざN1
正座 is the formal, upright kneeling posture used in traditional settings, while 胡坐 is the relaxed, informal cross-legged sitting position.

Written forms

あぐらUsage79%
gikun (meaning-based reading) or jukujikun
Usually written in kana; the kanji forms are rare or archaic.
胡座あぐらUsage16%
gikun (meaning-based reading) or jukujikun
Variant kanji form; rarely seen.
アグラUsage5%
胡坐あぐら
gikun (meaning-based reading) or jukujikun

Etymology

The reading あぐら is a jukujikun (special kanji reading) for the kanji 胡坐, which originally referred to a foreign (胡) sitting style (坐). The exact derivation of the reading is uncertain.

Historically common kanji form, but now rarely used.

胡床あぐら

rarely-used kanji formgikun (meaning-based reading) or jukujikun

Archaic kanji form; not used in modern Japanese.

趺坐あぐら

rarely-used kanji formgikun (meaning-based reading) or jukujikun

Archaic kanji form; not used in modern Japanese.