両りょう腕うで

also: もろうで

りょ

う

う

で

Meanings

1

Refers to both of a person's arms. Common in contexts of strength, carrying, or physical ability.

彼かれは両りょう腕うでに大おおきな荷に物もつを抱かかえていた。
He was carrying a large load in both arms.
両りょう腕うでを大おおきく回まわしてストレッチをする。
I stretch by swinging both arms in big circles.

See all 18 example sentences ›

Usage patterns

両りょう腕うでを組くむto cross one's arms
彼かれは両りょう腕うでを組くんで考かんがえ込こんだ。
He crossed his arms and fell into thought.
両りょう腕うでで〈物もの〉を抱かかえるto hold something in both arms
母ははは両りょう腕うでで赤あかちゃんを抱かかえた。
The mother held the baby in both arms.
両りょう腕うでを広ひろげるto spread one's arms wide
彼かの女じょは両りょう腕うでを広ひろげて空そらを見み上あげた。
She spread her arms wide and looked up at the sky.
両りょう腕うでがしびれるone's arms go numb
長ちょう時じ間かんパソコンを使つかって両りょう腕うでがしびれてきた。
My arms started to go numb after using the computer for a long time.

Kanji

両both, old Japanese coin, counter for carriages (e.g., in a train)
腕arm, ability, talent

Related words

両りょう手てN1
両手 focuses on the hands themselves, whereas 両腕 refers to both arms as a whole limb.

Opposites

片かた腕うで
両腕 refers to both of a person's arms, while 片腕 refers to just one arm.

Don't confuse with

両りょう手てN1
両腕 means both arms (the limbs from shoulder to wrist), while 両手 means both hands, so they refer to different body parts despite sounding similar in structure.

Built from

両りょう+腕うで

Written forms

両腕Usage99%
- りょううで
  Standard kanji spelling for 'both arms'.
- もろうで
りょううでUsage1%
もろうで
Rare reading; the kanji form 両腕 is normally read りょううで.

Etymology

Compound of 両 (ryō, 'both') and 腕 (ude, 'arm'). The reading もろうで is a rare alternative using the native reading of 両.