noun
armpit; underarm
The hollow under the shoulder. Also used in phrases like 脇に抱える (hold under one's arm).
彼は脇に本を挟んで立っていた。
He stood with a book tucked under his arm.
脇の下が汗で濡れている。
My armpits are wet with sweat.
noun
Refers to the area immediately next to someone or something. Often used in the pattern ～の脇.
母の脇に座ってテレビを見た。
I sat beside my mother and watched TV.
駅の脇に小さな公園がある。
There is a small park near the station.
noun
aside; to the side; out of the way
Movement or placement away from the center or main path. Common in 脇に寄る (step aside) and 脇に置く (put aside).
車が通れるように脇に寄ってください。
Please step aside so the car can pass.
その問題はひとまず脇に置いておこう。
Let's put that issue aside for now.
noun
off-topic; digression; tangent
Used when a conversation or thought strays from the main subject. Common in 脇道にそれる (go off on a tangent) and 話が脇にそれる.
話が脇にそれてしまった。
The conversation went off on a tangent.
脇道にそれるのが彼の癖だ。
He has a habit of going off on tangents.
noun
deuteragonist; supporting role (Noh)
In Noh theater, the secondary actor who supports the main character (shite). Conventionally written in katakana as ワキ.
能では、ワキがシテの話を引き出す役割を担う。
In Noh, the waki plays the role of drawing out the shite's story.
noun
second verse (renga)
Abbreviation of 脇句 (wakiku), the second verse in a renga linked-verse sequence. Specialized literary term.
See also: 脇句
連歌では、発句に続いて脇が詠まれる。
In renga, the second verse (waki) is composed after the opening verse.