腰 (こし, koshi) Japanese meaning: lower back

腰 (こし, koshi) Japanese meaning: lower back | Kotomora

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.

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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

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.

腰こし

Meanings

Usage patterns

Expressions· 25