脇
Meanings
armpit; underarm
The hollow under the shoulder. Also used in phrases like 脇に抱える (hold under one's arm).
He stood with a book tucked under his arm.
My armpits are wet with sweat.
Refers to the area immediately next to someone or something. Often used in the pattern ～の脇.
I sat beside my mother and watched TV.
There is a small park near the station.
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).
Please step aside so the car can pass.
Let's put that issue aside for now.
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.
The conversation went off on a tangent.
He has a habit of going off on tangents.
deuteragonist; supporting role (Noh)
In Noh theater, the secondary actor who supports the main character (shite). Conventionally written in katakana as ワキ.
In Noh, the waki plays the role of drawing out the shite's story.
second verse (renga)
Abbreviation of 脇句 (wakiku), the second verse in a renga linked-verse sequence. Specialized literary term.
See also: 脇句
In renga, the second verse (waki) is composed after the opening verse.
Usage patterns
- 〈物〉を脇に抱えるto hold something under one's arm
He walked with his bag held under his arm.
- 〈場所〉の脇に〈物〉があるsomething is located beside a place
There are a lot of bicycles parked beside the station.
- 〈物〉を脇に止めるto pull something (e.g. a car) off to the side
The driver pulled the car off to the side and answered the phone.
- 話が脇道にそれるfor the conversation to stray off topic
The discussion went off on a tangent during the meeting.
Expressions
- 脇が甘いpoor at preventing an underarm grip · having weak defenses; off guard; vulnerable
- 脇に寄るstand aside; step aside; move to the side
- 脇に置くset aside; lay aside; put aside
- 脇へそれるdigress; stray from the subject · miss the target; fly wide of the mark
- 脇目も振らずwithout looking aside; single-mindedly; wholeheartedly