腰こし

こ

し

Common wordJLPTN4Freq.FrequencyTop 5,000

Meanings

Refers to the lower back and hip area. In everyday use, it can mean the waist or the general pelvic region, depending on context.

重おもいものを持もち上あげるときは、腰こしを痛いためないように気きをつけてください。
When lifting heavy things, be careful not to hurt your lower back.
彼かの女じょは腰こしに手てを当あてて立たっていた。
She stood with her hands on her hips.

noun

body; resilience; springiness

Describes the firm, springy texture of food (especially noodles), hair, or paper. Often written in katakana as コシ in this sense.

Usage patterns

腰こしを痛いためるto hurt one's lower back
重おもい荷に物もつを持もって腰こしを痛いためた。
I hurt my back carrying a heavy load.
腰こしを伸のばすto stretch one's back
長ちょう時じ間かん座すわった後あとは腰こしを伸のばした方ほうがいい。
It's good to stretch your back after sitting for a long time.
腰こしを曲まげるto bend at the waist
おばあさんは腰こしを曲まげて畑はたけ仕し事ごとをしていた。
The old woman was bent over working in the field.
腰こしを据すえるto settle down and focus seriously on something
彼かれはやっと腰こしを据すえて仕し事ごとに取とり組くみ始はじめた。
He finally settled down and started focusing seriously on his work.
腰こしを上あげるto finally get up and take action
みんなの説せっ得とくでやっと彼かれも腰こしを上あげた。
With everyone's persuasion, he finally got up and took action.

Expressions· 25

腰こしの物ものsword worn on the hip · item worn on the hip; hip accessory
腰こしが低ひくいhumble; modest; unassuming
腰こしが強つよいfirm; resilient; persevering
腰こしが軽かるいquick to act; cheerfully working; light on one's feet · hasty; impulsive
腰こしが重おもいslow to act; reluctant to get started

Show 3 more

コシのあるpleasantly chewy; firm and elastic · springy and resilient; full-bodied
腰こしの低ひくいhumble; modest
腰こしの重おもいslow to act; reluctant to get started

See all 25 in Explore →

Kanji

腰loins, hips, waist

Related words· 6

尻しりN4sense 1
腰 refers to the lower back and hip area, while 尻 specifically means the buttocks, a bit lower down.
弾だん力りょくN1sense 2
弾力 is a general word for elasticity or resilience of any material, while 腰 (in this sense) is specific to the firm, springy quality of food, hair, or paper.
ウエストN2sense 1
ウエスト refers specifically to the waist measurement or narrowest part of the torso, while 腰 covers the lower back and hip area more broadly.
お神輿みこしN1
腰 is the standard, neutral word for the lower back/waist, whereas おみこし is a jocular slang term used in casual, humorous contexts.

Show 2 more

腰よう部ぶ
腰 is the common, everyday word for the waist or lower back, while 腰部 is the more formal, anatomical term used in medical or technical contexts.
御み輿こしN1
腰 is the standard, neutral word for the lower back/hips, while みこし is a colloquial, slightly playful variant used mainly in fixed idioms like みこしを上げる.

Don't confuse with

越ごしN1
腰 (lower back/waist) and 越し (a suffix meaning 'across' or 'over', as in 一年越し) are pronounced identically but are completely different words.
背せ中なかN4
背中 refers to the whole back from shoulders to waist, while 腰 refers specifically to the lower back/waist area just below it.
ヒップ
腰 specifically means the waist/lower back, whereas ヒップ refers to the hips and buttocks area, so learners often mix up which body part each covers.

Word family· 77

足あし腰こし
legs and lower back; lower body · foundation; underpinning
腰こし掛かけN2
seat; bench; stool · stopgap job; temporary position
腰こし抜ぬけ
coward; chicken; wimp
本ほん腰ごし
serious effort; earnestness; getting down to business
物もの腰ごし
manner; demeanor; bearing

Show 25 more

弱よわ腰ごし
weak-kneed; timid; lacking firmness
ぎっくり腰ごし
strained back; slipped disc; lumbosacral strain
丸まる腰ごし
unarmed; without weapons
腰こし巾ぎん着ちゃく
hanger-on; follower; flunky; sycophant · waist pouch; purse strapped around the waist
喧けん嘩か腰ごし
belligerent attitude; readiness to fight
中ちゅう腰ごし
half-sitting posture; half-standing posture; stooping position
腰こし掛かけるN3
sit down; seat oneself
及および腰ごし
bent back; half-sitting posture · indecisive attitude; timidity; lack of nerve
腰こしつき
gait; posture; way of carrying one's hips
腰こし砕くだけ
collapsing in the middle of a sumo bout · breaking down halfway; faltering midway
逃にげ腰ごし
preparing to flee; ready to run away
腰こし骨ぼね
hipbone; innominate bone · fortitude; perseverance; backbone
腰こし巻まき
loincloth; waistcloth; kimono underskirt
腰こし布ぬの
loincloth
腰こし高だか
overbearing; haughty; high-and-mighty · unstable sumo stance; high hips in sumo
へっぴり腰ごし
bent back; crouching posture · timidity; lack of nerve; weak-kneed attitude
お腰こし
buttocks; lower back; waist; hips · kimono underskirt
両りょう腰ごし
katana and wakizashi (worn together)
小こ腰ごし
waist; lower back
強つよ腰ごし
firm stance; tough attitude
柳やなぎ腰ごし
slim waist; willowy figure · waist of a willow tree
浮うき腰ごし
wavering; unsteady; ready to flee · floating hip throw (judo)
無む腰ごし
unarmed; without a sword
美び腰こし
slim waist; beautiful waistline
腰こし元もと
chamber maid; female servant · area around the hips; waist area

See all 77 in Explore →

Written forms

腰こしUsage96%
Standard kanji spelling for the body part and related figurative uses.
コシUsage2%
kana-only spelling
Katakana spelling commonly used for the 'body/resilience' sense, especially in food and product descriptions.
こしUsage2%

Etymology

The historical derivation is uncertain. The kanji 腰 is conventionally associated with the lower back and hip area, and by extension with the idea of 'core strength' or 'body' in textures.