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趾行性 (しこうせい) Japanese meaning | Kotomora

趾し行こう性せい

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Meanings

1

noun, noun which may take the genitive case particle 'no'

digitigrade

Zoological term describing animals that walk on their toes, such as dogs and cats. Often used attributively with の.

犬いぬや猫ねこは趾し行こう性せいの動どう物ぶつです。
Dogs and cats are digitigrade animals.
趾し行こう性せいの歩あるき方かたは、かかとを地じ面めんにつけない。
Digitigrade locomotion does not place the heel on the ground.

Written forms

趾し行こう性せい
Standard kanji spelling using 趾 (toe); preferred in zoological contexts.
指し行こう性せい
Variant using 指 (finger/toe); less common but still encountered.

Kanji

趾footprint, remains
行going, journey, carry out

性sex, gender, nature

指finger, point to, indicate

Similar words

蹠行性しょこうせい
Plantigrade (walking on the soles), as in humans and bears, contrasted with digitigrade.
蹄てい行こう性せい
Unguligrade (walking on hooves), as in horses and deer, another foot posture type.

Etymology

Compound of 趾 (toe) or 指 (finger/toe), 行 (walking), and 性 (nature/tendency). A modern scientific term calqued from English 'digitigrade' or German 'Zehengänger'.