くびれ

く

び

れ

Freq.FrequencyTop 20,000

Meanings

constriction; narrow part

usually written using kana alone

General term for a part that is narrower than the surrounding area, such as the neck of a bottle or an hourglass shape.

waist; narrow waist

usually written using kana alone

Especially refers to a woman's slim waist; often used in contexts of body shape or fashion.

〈物もの〉にくびれがあるsomething has a narrow/constricted part
このボトルには美うつくしいくびれがある。
This bottle has a beautiful narrowing in its shape.
くびれができるto develop a defined waistline
運うん動どうを続つづけたら、お腹なかにくびれができた。
After continuing to exercise, I developed a defined waistline.
くびれを作つくるto create/train a slim waist
腹ふっ筋きんを鍛きたえてくびれを作つくりたい。
I want to train my abs to create a slim waist.

ウエストN2sense 2
ウエスト is a loanword for 'waist' as a body measurement or clothing size, while くびれ emphasizes the visual narrowness and shape.

膨ふくらみ sense 1
くびれ describes a narrowing or indentation, while 膨らみ describes a bulge or swelling outward, the opposite shape.

首くびN5sense 1
くびれ (a narrow constriction, like a waist) is easily confused by sound with 首 (neck), a body part, though the two words are unrelated in meaning.

Derived from the verb くびれる (to be constricted). The kanji 括 is used for its meaning of 'tie' or 'bind', but the word is usually written in kana.