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腿 (もも, momo) Japanese meaning: thigh | Kotomora

腿もも

も

も

Common word›JLPTN1›Freq.FrequencyTop 50,000

Meanings

1

Refers to the upper part of the leg between the hip and the knee. Used in both anatomical and everyday contexts.

昨日きのうの運うん動どうで腿ももが痛いたい。

My thighs are sore from yesterday's exercise.

彼かれは腿ももにけがをした。

He injured his thigh.

Usage patterns

腿ももを痛いためるto injure one's thigh
試し合あい中ちゅうに腿ももを痛いためてしまった。
I injured my thigh during the match.
腿ももがつるfor one's thigh to cramp
長ちょう時じ間かん走はしったら腿ももがつった。
My thigh cramped up after running for a long time.
腿ももを鍛きたえるto train/strengthen one's thighs
スクワットで腿ももを鍛きたえている。
I'm strengthening my thighs with squats.

Kanji

腿thigh, femur
股thigh, crotch

Related words

太ふともも
腿 is the plain anatomical word for the thigh, while 太もも specifically emphasizes the thicker, upper fleshy part and is the more common everyday term.
股またN2
腿 means the thigh itself as a limb, whereas 股 centers on the crotch and groin area between the legs.

Don't confuse with

すねN1
腿 refers to the thigh above the knee, whereas すね is the shin, the front of the lower leg below the knee.
ふくらはぎ
腿 is the upper leg between hip and knee, while ふくらはぎ is the calf, the back of the lower leg below the knee.
膝ひざN4
膝 refers to the knee joint or the lap area when sitting, whereas 腿 specifically means the thigh, the fleshy part above the knee.

Word family

腿もも上あげ
high knees; high knee exercise
モモアカノスリ
Harris's hawk

Written forms

腿ももUsage95%
Standard kanji for thigh; the most common written form.
股ももUsage4%
Also used for thigh, but can be confused with 股 (また, crotch). Less common than 腿.
ももUsage1%
Kana spelling is common in everyday writing, especially when the intended kanji is not important.

Etymology

The exact derivation is uncertain. The kanji 腿 is conventionally associated with the thigh.