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中指 (nakayubi) Japanese meaning: middle finger | Kotomora

中なか指ゆび

also: ちゅうし

な

か

ゆ

び

Common word›JLPTN2›Freq.FrequencyTop 20,000

Meanings

1

middle finger

The standard word for the middle finger in everyday contexts.

彼かれは中なか指ゆびを立たてて怒いかりを表あらわした。

He raised his middle finger to show his anger.

2

middle toe; third toe

Used for the middle toe, especially in medical or anatomical contexts; less common in daily conversation.

足あしの中なか指ゆびをぶつけて痛いためた。
I hit my middle toe and hurt it.

Usage patterns

中なか指ゆびを立たてるto give someone the middle finger (an obscene gesture)
彼かれは怒いかって中なか指ゆびを立たてた。
He got angry and flipped the middle finger.
中なか指ゆびにリングをはめるto wear a ring on one's middle finger
彼かの女じょは中なか指ゆびにシルバーのリングをはめている。
She wears a silver ring on her middle finger.

Kanji

中in, inside, middle
指finger, point to, indicate

Don't confuse with

人ひと差さし指ゆびN2sense 1
人差し指 is the index finger next to the thumb, while 中指 is the longer finger next to it, and learners often mix up which is which when naming fingers in Japanese.
薬くすり指ゆびN2sense 1
薬指 is the ring finger between the middle finger and pinky, and beginners sometimes confuse it with 中指 since both are 'middle' fingers of the hand.
小こ指ゆびN2sense 1
小指 is the pinky finger, the smallest one, and learners new to finger vocabulary sometimes mix it up with 中指 when listing fingers in order.

Counted with

本ほんN5sense 1
中指, like other fingers, is counted with 本 as a long, slender object (一本, 二本, etc.).

Built from

中なか+指ゆび

Written forms

中指Usage100%
- なかゆび
  Standard kanji spelling; the reading なかゆび is the most common.
- ちゅうし
  Rare on'yomi reading; mainly encountered in medical or formal contexts.
ちゅうし

Etymology

Compound of 中 (naka, 'middle') and 指 (yubi, 'finger'). The reading ちゅうし is the on'yomi version, used in formal or medical terms.